
Qass / T ^/QO rJ 

Book L^jt 



OPOLEYTA; 

OR, 

a Cale of itnD. 

A POEM, 

IN FOUR CANTOS. 



BERTIE^ AMBROSSE. / k 1 



Tantum religio pittuit snadere malorum." 

LUCRET. 1. 1. 



LONDON: 

PRINTED FOR LONGMAN, HURST, REES, ORME, AND BROWN, 
PATERNOSTER-ROW. 

1815. 






T. DAVISON, Lombard-street, 
Whiiefriars, London. 



TO 

SIR JAMES MACKINTOSH, 

THIS POEM IS INSCRIBED, 
WITH SINCERE FEELINGS 
OF .ADMIRATION. RESPECT, AND GRATITUDE, 

BY HIS OBEDIENT 

AND OBLIGED SERVANT, 

THE AUTHOR. 



Est nobis voluisse satis," 

Tibul. 1. 4. 



ADVERTISEMENT. 



The following poem was commenced by the 
author merely to pass away the hours on a long 
andtedious voyage. It was far from his intention 
to trespass on public patience by printing the 
effusion of his idle hours, nor could he ever have 
been seduced into such presumption, had he not 
been vain of the name which countenances his 
performance. 



ERRATA. 



m page 32, line 12, after ihroe, insert a comma. 
Page 58, line 5, dele comma after eye. 
Page 79, line 15, for enjoy, read enjoyed. 
Page 87, line 2, for relinquish, read reiinquished. 



OPOLEYTA. 

CANTO I. 

THE COUNCIL. 

I. 

The hour of eve was come, the day was fled, 

The sun had set in melancholy red, 

The gates of Opoleyt were closed ; the guard 

With cautious vigilance the wicket barred ; 

The lingering light, wan widow of the day. 

Shed on the darkening towers a dusky ray; 

Around the walls the vigil bands had passed. 

The watchword and the countersign were cast; 

The dubious sentinel would pause to hear 

What soft and hostile footsteps wandered near. 

Amid the gloom, anon his fancy spies 

Approaching forms, the mockery of his eyes ; 

Anon the rustling bowers confirm his fear, 

Some whispered guile assails his wistful ear. 

" Who comes ?" aloud with throbbing breast, he cries 

The echoed sound along the turrets dies. 



2 OPOLEYTA. 

IL 

But while on Opoleyta's battled arch 

The ruminating sentry keeps his march, 

And stillness dwells in every guarded tow'r, 

'Tis now the city's gay and festive hour, 

i\nd minstrel pipe and chime ^ of temple bell, 

And sacred quires the gale of even swell; 

The thronged pagodas fume with holy fire, 

And incense grateful to their gods' desire. 

In soft luxuriance laid the proud and high, 

'Mid garden balms inhale the zephyr sigh; 

While female bands in amorous gesture shed 

Fresh showers of roses o'er the dewy bed. 

Or in soft airs, the languid sense to move, 

With bland enchantment weave their odes to love. 

III. 

Now to their subterranean vaults were gone 
Th' athlete, the pugilist, and stout pheilwan. 
With blushing paint besmeared the taleem owns 
The vigorous health of abstinence's sons. 
There the quick wrestler strives his man to throw, 
While toilsome showers run lavish from his brow ; 
There wields the vast muqdoors, in scanty space, 
The staunch pheilwan, and gives their motion grace 
Here one the dun; and, lo! with rattling jar, 
The lazem* keeps its own laborious calendar. 

IV. 

Yet while in revels free the city spent 
The fleeting hours, on toil or pleasure bent ; 



CANTO I. 

In high Durbar the Rajah, sorrow-fraught, 

From his brave peers befitting council sought ; 

But not in golden palaces or halls 

Perfumed M'ith flowers, or cooled with fountain falls 

Th' assembled peers wfere met ; deep under ground 

Asylum due the pensive meeting found ; 

In realms as drear as those Cocytus laves, 

With doleful tone and queiimonious waves, 

Close by Oblivion's thick and murky stream, 

That blots the record of life's anxious dream. 

From immemorial time it was decreed, 

That Opoleyta's arms should ne'er succeed, 

If e'er disusing those austere abodes, 

(The mighty work of genealogic gods). 

The Rajah sought, in less religious fane. 

Council, which there unsought, were sought in vain. 

V. 

Of granite rock, the excavation frowned 

Through feeble darkness o'er the sacred ground. 

Scarce may the rearing columns' shade aright 

Be viewed distinct by that imperfect light. 

Save where through mountain clefts the day-beams fall 

On ponderous shaft and storied capital. 

Which firm their proud stupendous stations hold, 

Of countless time incalculably old ; 

Casting their prostrate umbrage on the deep, 

That holds its bosom in eternal sleep, 

Nor variance knows ; still on its pool displayed 

The dark reflection of unchanging shade. 



4 OPOLEYTA. 

Seldom was seen an idle eastern swell 
Heave thro' the drowsy whole, ere yet it fell ; 
But partial throes would linger through the deep 
In sad resemblance of the death hour's sleep ; 
And seldom heard was that dead lake to throw 
Around its strand the waters to and fro, 
Nor any sound, save when redundant waves 
Fell in the gulp of cold adjacent caves, 
Rocked in those hollow beds with murmurs dull. 
As waves that search the deluged vessel's hull. 
By unctuous torches, which inconstant flared, 
The lowering chiefs at intervals appeared ; 
They obvious owned some aggravating pain, 
And solemn sadness wrapped the thoughtful train. 

VI. 

The Rajah's form, though green his age, 
Skewed mark of hard mischance and woe ; 
And never frontispiece more sad 
A tome of tragic story had, 
That could the tender heart engage. 
And bid the stream of pity flow. 
Than that pale cheek, that grief imprinted brow. 

VII. 

'Twas not that years had bleached his head. 
Or battle toil had ashed his cheek. 
But that the wanton Fortune's frown 
Had there her paltry triumph shown, 
And sadness on the goodly shed, 



CANTO I. 

As wont her foul caprice to wreak, 
Not on audacious guilt, but on the meek. 

VIII. 

His eye not yet had ceased to glow ; 
But, ah ! how brighter far it shone 
When gay Sagoona met its smile. 
Or dried its tear, alas ! the while ; 
Or, when with sympathetic woe. 
She smoothed his brow, the battle done. 
And blessed his name with every setting sun. 

IX. 

His shield and sword the Rajah held. 
His head was rested on his hand ; 
Full wide he gazed, yet looked on nought. 
So deep, so seriously he thought : 
The gnawing theme his proud heart swelled 
Nor heeded he the lordly band. 
That round him made their reverential stand. 

X. 

Solemn, those martial peers condoled 
With all their prince's misery ; 
For fathers there among them stood, 
Of angered heart, and woeful mood. 
Of feeling soft, of courage bold ; 
Conscious how keen the agony 
For loss of one—sole — darling progeny. 



6 OPOLEYTA. 

XL 

The aged chiefs, their eyes hard fixed, 
Thought to retrieve the captured child ; 
But younger peers the white cymar 
Crumpled, or grasped the cimetar. 
Or hand on front, I'eflection mixed 
With vengeful soul, and vision wild. 
Shewed how they bore their prince's fame defiled. 

XII. 

Long time had fled since there bestowed. 
The chiefs forgot the sacred rite. 
That to the temple god was due : 
The Rajah rose, then two by two 
Around Gunputhee's shrine they strewed 
The purest wave, and flowrets white. 
Soliciting the sapient godhead's light. ^ 

XIIL 

Performed that ceremony high. 
Sad Abba lost in fancies deep. 
Instinctive to his station went, 
Nor to the lofty warriors bent, 
But held on earth his steady eye : 
To woe long known, estranged from sleep, 
Oh! destined ne'er to smile, but aye to weep. 

XIV. 

Angered such cold delay should be 
'Mid soldiers proved, and captains bold ; 



- CANTO I. 

A chief with life's young ardor fraught, 
Spoke, reckless that his passion wrought : 
'TAvas plain he gave his council free. 
His eyes with indignation rolled, 
As hand on hilt his dauntless mind he told. 

XV. 
This youth was born for man's esteem, 
For woman's love was formed in all ; 
For friends his heart was most sincere. 
He fought for them, or shed a tear, 
On every sympathetic theme. 
Him honor swayed with her proud call. 
Misfortune ne'er could change, nor fear appal. 

XVI. 

His bright black eye could well declare 
Love's tenderness or choler's fire, 
And truth was on his front displayed ; 
Around his neck thick jet locks strayed. 
Young strength was his, and lofty air : 
Such gifts conjoined delight inspire 
In India's- sex, and kindle soft desire, 

XVII. 

" Befits it us in weeds of war, 
" This show of woman's weakly care, 
" While by our sides our sabres swing, 
" Meet steel to vindicate our king ; 
" And teach oppression far and near, 



8 OPOLEYTA. 

" Though Opoleyta's sons are rare, 
" Their hearts are firm, and what they will, they dare. 

XVIII. 

" Or more beseems it hence to go> 
" With supplicating, abject mien, 
" And kiss the hand that stole the maid ? 
" Or at the Moslem's feet, if laid 
" In humble dust, we suppliant bow 
" To gather from his softened spleen 
" This boon — a harlot princess home again ? 

XIX. 

" Give me, ye peers, (a chieftain prays), 
" Me to revenge and to restore ; 
" Be mine to lead our dareful band, 
" O'er guilt triumphantly to stand, 
*' Or there to end my tedious days. 
" Firm to the last, tho' drenched in gore, 
" These limbs shall bear me as they often bore ! 

XX. 

" Oh, that the hoary foe could gain 
" Courage to meet on battle field ; 
" Maugre his martial skill, I trow, 
" That many a wound and sturdy blow 
*' Should greet this trunk, and this young brain, 
" Ere Appa fell or sought to yield, 
" Or that bold traitor had my death lot sealed." 



CANTO I. 

XXI. 
His ire was fierce, half failed his speech, 
Lowered his dark brow, rushed forth his brand 
" Yet, damned chief!" quoth he, " thoul't rue 
" That Gpoleyta's blades you drew; 
" And those grey locks thy scull that bleach, 
" In blood and dust shall shame the sand, 
" While guilt and sin thy soul to hell remand." 

XXII. 

Candor and fire so strongly move, 
Where'er their potencies combine, 
Concerted schemes of faction fail ; 
And like the vessel in the gale. 
Whither the mighty torrents rove, 
Succumbing to the godlike voice 
Great souls obey,* and though subdued, rejoice. 

XXIII. 

Needs but one spark of fire impart 
To breasts where noble spirit lives : 
Fierce the contagion fires the whole, 
Awakes to deed the slumbering soul. 
Pours a proud impulse to the heart ; 
Man from his vulgar office rives, 
And god-like acts to human nature gives. 

XXIV. 

Yea! that Durbar, vindictively, 

Roused with the youthful Raujepoot's fire. 



10 OPOLEYTA. 

In vengeful occupation laid 
Their hands on baldric and on blade ; 
From each wrath lord indignantly, 
In wild disorder burst his ire, 
Quick as the flames that wrap the kindled pyre. 

XXV. 

But hark ! a melancholy note 
Now swelled the seeming weary breeze, 
Which rarely in that cavern moaned; 
So woeful, sad, and sorry toned, 
As ne'er from boding raven's throat 
Proceeds, when gloomy night to please 
She shrieks a fate from dark funereal trees. 

XXVI. 

Again that sound of sorrow given ! 
It told of old neglected love. 
Ah, welladay ! the thought might well 
The stricken breast of sadness swell. 
Who reckless falls from such a heaven ? 
For heaven is theirs who ever prove 
The holy bonds of consecrated love. 

SONG HEARD. 

" I love to shed my evening tear 

*' Upon my dungeon grating bar, 

" My old and sorry calendar ; 

" My bhss is fled for evermore. 

" I wail the happiness I joyed, 

'' Ere tyrant force that charm destroyed, 



CANTO L U 

■'* When love alone my soul employed, 
^* In sunshine, happy days of yore." 

XXVII. 

Amazement seized the martial train, 
All paused to greet the melody; 
Abba it roused as from a trance, 
Who forth with princely amenaunce % 
To whence complained that tristful strain, 
Paced on with due solemnity, 
When lo ! a man of nameless misery. 

XXVIII. 

A fissure gave a moonlight ray 

To view his wretched countenance ; 

A sharp serseja^ was his bed, 

And at his rough, uncleanly head 

The sacred books in order lay ; 

On his scored front, of chill intense, 

Slow drops from high, red vessels aye dispense. 

XXIX. 

In bigot weeds, his faded form 
Could still declare that former days 
Had known him more than meek devote ; 
He seemed t' have been a warrior stout, 
The victim of life's luckless storni; 
Estranged from man, unheeding praise. 
Above the world — he chid but fate's delays. 

* " Well kend him so far space, 
*' Th' enchanter by his arms and amenance." 

Fairie Quecne. 



12 OPOLEYTA. 

XXX. 

For years that lonely cell contained 
Himself, and all his unknown woes ; 
Nor aught of worldly pleasure brought 
This eremite to ease his thought, 
Save one poor vene ; when memory pained 
He woke its strains, and soothed the throes 
Which nought save music's power could compose. 

XXXL 

Him from his prison, self imposed. 
The king's behest immediate brought, 
In presence of the peers to raise 
The melody of Persic* lays. 
But still, whene'er his lips unclosed, 
His answers were with mystery fraught, 
Perplexed and mingled with some wayward thought. 

xxxn. 

Oft to commence the stranger strove. 
It seemed himself these strains had wove. 
The lorn complaints of injured love, 

For oft he shed a tear : 
When scenes of youth, and former days. 
Shot o'er his mind with transient blaze, 
And memory cast its glancing rays 

On parted pleasure's bier. 

XXXIII. 

Again essayed that devotee 
To wake his vene to harmony ; 



CANTO I. 13 



Oh! fain he was his strains shouLl be 

So marked by son of man: 
For sympathy to souls aggrieved 
Is sorrow's burthen half relieved : 
Joyful he smiled, the nod received, 

The hermit thus began. 

XXXIV. 

THE hermit's song. 

Behold ! the moon with feeble sheen 
Now gilds yon grove of sable green. 
And as thro' heaven's blue arc serene 

Her steady course she holds : 
The skirt of every fleecy cloud, 
That o'er her throws its transient shroud, 
She gilds with yellow lustre proud, 

Then soft her smile unfolds. 
The ray on yonder mouldered towers 
Descends to greet those cold wild flowers 
That bloom alone in evening hours. 

The silent tide of love : 
Now gentle zephyrs sigh in sleep, 
The west now tints the glimmering deep, 
And shining dews in silence weep 

On every spangled grove • 
Now reigns the bliss unknown to crime, 
Now devuls peal their mellow chime. 
And western blushes own the time 

To love's embraces dear. 



14 OPOLEYTA. 

Illumined lies the still sea wave, 
The monument that marks the grave 
Of olden saint, and hero brave, 

In solemn lustre peer. 
Then hie we to our roseate bed, 
Fresh flowers shall rest thy braided head, 
And evening spirits kindly shed 

Round thee a calm repose ; 
And love shall thro' thy slumbers breathe 
A pure desire, and all beneath 
Be hushed, while thy soft waist I wreath, 

Forgetful of my woes. E)id of the Son^ 

XXXV. 

" Thou wonderest, chief, that I should pay 

" A tear to so uncouth a lay, 

" Yet sweep the strings so happily ; 

" That this, so low and humble strain, 

" Should o'er my aged bosom gain, 

" And warm my heart so cheerily. 

XXXVI. 

" Trust me I do not deem the air 
" Deserving of thy princely ear, 

" Nor rate these sounds so worthily ; 
" And though 'tis but a simple thing, 
" I still must weep whene'er I sing, 

" \A'hat once I warbled merrily. 



CANTO I. 15 



XXXVII. 

" A maiden taught me this same strain, 
" In happy days, in pleasure's reign, 

" Times that we passed how lovingly ! 
*' Ere yet a tyrant's guilty lust 
'•' Had this once dauntless bosom burst, 
" And all my hours of life accurst 

^' AVith sorrow everlastingly. 

XXXVIII. 

" Now that I hold her days are o'ei", 
'* And aye her secret fate deplore, 
" And time for me its hours, no more, 

" Of happiness shall roll : 
'* Where holy fonts the flowrets lave, 
" Shaded by cypress boughs that wave 
" In idle motion o'er the grave 

*' Of many a sainted soul ; 
" At even's gloom and pensive hour, 
" I woo her fancied burial bower, 
" There drop my wonted mournful show'r, 

" Tears shed, oh ! how deservedly. 
" But where she rests, and when she died, 
" To me this knowledge is denied." — 
A gleam of high majestic pride 

Broke on his altering mien : 
A thought bewrayed his brightening eyes. 
Of vengeful soul, and high emprize, 
And though in that fanatic guise, 

The chief or prince was seen. 



16 OPOLEYTA. 

For though misfortune's wearing woe 
Drive from the eye its wonted glow, 
And o'er the manly visage throw 

Its melancholy hue ; 
Yet in that breast, if honor burned, 
Oh ! never from mischance it learned 
To crouch at fate when fortune spurned, 

And scattered ills undue ; 
But souls that scoff at hard mischance 
Bear not suspicion's sneaking glance. 
But roused from their lethargic trance, 

And more than newly born. 
Are trebly fired ; and natures high 
Can better brook distress, or die, 
Than deign to own compassion's sigh, 

The dastard cloak of scorn. 

XXXIX. 

There broke his tale : a sigh expressed, 

That bigotry within his breast 

Had not the virtuous flame depressed; 

In nature's path he trod : 
Though in the forms of pain precise. 
No sacred, hypocritic vice 
Could yet his native heart entice 

To shame his lore of God. 
He rose ; nor blushed he that a tear 
On his wan visage should appear. 
And by such testimony bear 

Concern for human kind. 



CANTO I. if 

Then lowly bent, and towards his aisle 
Casting a look of woe the while, 
A wistful, retrospective smile, 

On happy days behind ; 
Seeming within to ruminate. 
How various were the strokes of fate, 
And yet triumphantly elate. 

To spurn its hardships rude : 
(For, saving love or friendship oft 
Would urge their kind, emotions soft, 
Of earthly change he ever scoffed 

The worst vicissitude.) 
He stayed his step, and held his eye 
In meaning gaze on Appajee ; 
And heaving a distressful sigh, 

Prophetically said : 
" Youth, thou art brave, art noble, good, 
'* Beware thy hands be not imbrued 
" Unconsciously in father's blood, 

"' But spare his sacred head ; 
" For time shall come when thou shalt know 
" Thy parent who, and who the foe, 
" That o'er thy birth hath dared to throw 

" This dark mysterious shed : 
" Though wronged by him, if e'er it be 
" Occasion of revenge you see, 
" Recall this warning homily, 

" Revere his hoary hair ; 
" For never son who father slew, 
" Though wronged by him, or o'er him threw 
" Dishonor, honor ever knew. 

" Beware ! beware ! beware !" 



IB OPOLEYTA. 

XL. 

Amazed were all ; for Appa's birth, 

Though known his prowess, and his worth, 

In aught that may avail or grace 

A chief of such exalted place. 

Was secret, clouded, and obscure. 

Yet slander's baleful voice impure. 

Declared t\\e youth of regal stamp ; 

For if in council, or in camp. 

Or if in point of lorish fruit, 

Or bent on heavenly love's pursuit. 

Compared with all (whosever son) 

He rose in the comparison : 

And hence 'twas deemed ecstatic bliss 

Alone had formed a youth like this. 

But why in lone sequestered school, 

Rehgion's pride, and bigot rule. 

That chill the heart, and warp the mind. 

And cheat the sense of human kind. 

Were given to form a princely child — 

That mystery every peer beguiled. 

XLI. 
What dear conjectures fleeting roll 
O'er Appa's wide dilating soul ; 
In speechless wonderment he heard. 
Mistrustful of the hermit's word ; 
And helpless as the rocking bark. 
Dismantled in the stormy dark. 
All ligbt'ning-blasted, tempest-tossed, 
In wild amazement's fancies lost. 



CANTO I. 19 



Strong o'er the Rajah's wondering mien, 

Regret, by turns, and hope were seen ; 

While hardly from his swelling breast 

His old heart's fervor was expressed : 

" This wonderous information won 

" Gives thee a sire — I lose a son : 

" For since thy youthful front my sight 

*' First greeted with a strange delight, 

" I had resolved that thou should'st be 

" Child of my age's misery; 

" And Opoleyt should find in thee 

" A chief deserving realty. 

" But now approaching wars invite 

** Thy valor to the chancing fight. 

" Alas ! we ne'er had known this strife 

" If murdered Mirza were in life." — 

The stranger's eye a wild delight 

Caught instantly; he shunned the sight 

Of the observant lords : a smile 

Of kindling hope, long damped, the while 

Shone on his pregnant countenance. 

" Why broke that animated glance 

" From him ? What heeded he if dead 

" Mirza were laid in lowly bed? 

" Could devotee exult, that war 

" Inspired her brazen trump afar? 

" Head of my sire ! no poor faquir 

" Is this : doubt not, 'twill soon appear 

^' That arm of his is fitter far 

^' To wield the cimeter of war ; 



20 OPOLEYTA. 

" Gifted with faithful Syriac brand, ' 
" Firm clenched within a vet'ran's hand, 
''To scatter death and misery, 
" Than count yon wretched rosary." 

XLII. 

For each had that ascetic pressed 
With scanning eye, and each confessed 
A baffled scrutiny ; yet doubt 
Was still that whole Durbar^ about. 
Retired he had, then Abbajee 
Uegan his tale of misery. 
" What hideous end, what thought malign, 
** Can urge the Moslem's dark design ? 
'' Or why, within Camballia's walls, 
" In maiden state he still inthralls 
" A father's joy, an only child, 
" I may not think. Since not defiled, 
" Nor importuned with passion's voice, 
" He woos her to forsake her choice. 
" It can't be love ; his nature feels 
" A cold contempt for love's appeals ; 
" But Mahadev bears our last demand ; 
" What word the chieftain may remand 
" Await we here : Mahadev possessed 
" Of keen discourse, may whi him best ; 
" For though advanced in mellow years, 
" Nathless, a soldier's zeal he bears ; 
" And though some secret thought disturb 
" His vacant hours, and e'er perturb 



CANTO I. 

" His nightly slumbers ; yet I ween 
" Herein his virtue shall be seen ; 
" And virtue's voice Abdullah bend 
" To seek again an ancient friend — " 
A flourish calls of trump and drums ! 
It must, it must be Mahadev comes ! 
The distant aisles return a sound, 
Fleet footsteps press the sacred ground. 
The steps approach: in sullen mood 
The bold Hindu before them stood ; 
His pace of speed, the evening's heat, 
Besmeared him o'er with dust and sweat : 
A low sala'am^ to Abba made, 
The missive chief out drew his blade ; 
*' This, injured king! alone must gain 
" What, sought by me, was sought in vain. 
'^ Yon stern, relentless Moossulmaun, 
" Adjured by prophet and Koran, 
" Resolves on Raujepoot blood to smile, 
" The due punition of thy guile — 
" (I use the chieftain's proper phrase). 
" And more he swears, that while his days 
" Shall give him force to wield the brand, 
" It still shall haunt thy guilty land ; 
" That while his heart in life shall be, 
" It still shall beat in hate of thee : 
" And while (for thou hast been the bane 
" Of all his joy, his source of pain), 
" His tongue can still an accent roll, 
" 'T shall damn thy unrelenting souL" 



22 OPOLEYTA. 

The Rajah's quivenng hp declares 

What rising wrath that bosom tears. 

" I ween that wily chief still deems, 

" Or feigns to think, or idly dreams, 

" Myself the murtherer of his son : 

" So let him hold ! — no ! I am none ! 

" But rouse — ^these words I 'gin to rate 

" The froward type of causeless hate !" 

The Rajah was no more the same, 

He struck his wrinkled front in ire ; 

His fruitful eye was closed, and fire 

Now beamed where endless tears had been ; 

But this — this thought provoked his spleen. 

He bade the council bare the sword, 

" Then War !" he cried, and at the word 

To eyes as bright shone every faithful cimeter, 

Impetuous to the palace made 

His steps : " Come ! follow !" All obeyed. 

XLHI. 

In haste the whole procession passed, 
Mahadev, in pensive pace, the last ; 
The strange faquir had known his tone, 
Advanced, and leant him near the stone 
That lay Gunputhee's shrine before, 
And all the sacred offerings bore ; 
There needed pass that chief to lay 
His own, ere yet he took his way ; 
He neared the idol-god, and placed 
His offering there. 

" This shrine debased 



CANTO I. 23 

" Is justly held, if guilt shall dare 
" With blood-stained hand lay nuzzer there.'* 
A voice remembered once then spoke. 
And on that chief like thunder broke — 
'Twas — whose ? The torches flare, and curse 
His sight with hell, or rack it worse. 
^Twas very he ! 'twas Mahadev's doom 
To see this tenant of the tomb. 
Collecting strength, he fled ; alarm 
So urged him of that phantom form ; 
The temple porch was won : he stood 
In breathless awe ; his shuddering blood 
Waxed cold, and curdled, e'en as thought 
Back to his eyes that damned vision brought. 

Mahadev awhile we leave to prove 
From unknown cause this dread. Above, 
Wrath Abba, stung at Moslem pride. 
To magazine and foundery hied ; 
Gave instant order, near and far. 
For implement and troops of war. 
Though night were nearly spent, yet he 
To bastion passed and battery : 
Around his towers with martial skill 
Observed performed his princely will : 
Widiout the gates of Opoleyt, 
With poison drugged the waters''^ sweet. 
And every woody canopy 
That might avail his enemy 
Was burnt or felled ; rich flelds consumed. 
The vicinage a desert loomed. " 



24 OPOLEYTA. 

The sentries' dull and frequent tone. 

Continual round the ramparts lone ; 

And challenge swift, and signal word, 

Perpetual thro' the night were heard. 

The iron-studded gates unbarred 

Gave issue to the outer guard ; 

Wise caution guided valor's flame : 

Just was the cause, the meed was fame. 

'Twas thus that Abbajee pronounced 

To meet the stroke which hate denounced. 

Thus the bold, prescient, sailor from afar 

Descries tlie terrors of the windy war ; 

With nautic skill the tempest to disarm, 

Furls his broad sails, and braves the rollini; storm. 



END or CANTO 3. 



OPOLEYTA. 

CANTO II. 



CAMBALLIA. 



Commotion is the time for great, bad men 
For bold, heroic vice seems virtue then. 
In days of peace the warHke rarely tow'r. 
Nor gain that idol which mankind adore, 
The universal wish, the golden chains of power. 

Well needed Abba every care apply, 
To meet his foe's undaunted masteiy. 
'Tis true, Abdullah was no sceptred slave, 
No mongrel courtier, but a soldier brave ; 
A man on whom the world had never smiled. 
Nor luxury had nursed, nor joys beguiled. 
Nay, even Love's, that pleasing tyrant's dart. 
Had rarely touched his adamantine heart ; 
But now — so coldly did its power move, 
'Twere e'en profane to call that feeling love. 



26 OPOLEYTA. 

'Twas so composed that man might well debate, 
If more of love were in't, or less of hate. 
The issue of his only blest embrace 
Was slain in youth, by kindred murtherer base : 
He too was stained with blood, a brother's blood ; 
By him those virtues perish'd in their bud, 
That erst had blessed Camballia's towers, and far 
. Dispelled the clouds of thundercrested war. 
Mirza was meekly good : Abdullah's breast 
Was e'er on wing, incapable of rest. 
He was of those ambitious men, who aim 
At the proud eminence of martial fame, 
And still aspire the state's affair to guide, 
That deed and counsel may go side by side ^ 
But when the hope of that exalted state 
Is lost, who rankle at unworthy fate, 
And seize, with greedy spleen, each galling plea 
To vex their prince, and canvass each decree 
Of dubious sort ; bewail the state's decay 
With patriot guise, yet to their evil day 
Appear resigned ; and when with specious theme 
The hydra's won, mature their own aspiring scheme. 

II. 

He was of that desponding mood. 
When man looks careless on his God ; 
Since dead that son, on whom his heart reclined, 
No joy knew he, but sullenness of mind 
Preyed on him e'er ; bereft of all delight, 
A solemn, stern, unfriended eremite. 



CANTO 11. 27 

And oft in hours of shade, at silent eve, 

For baflSed hopes of happiness he'd grieve ; 

Not in remorse — but that his bloody deed 

Had not been crowned with its attended meed. 

On guilt unmoved he looked : compunctious awe 

Of conscious sin ne'er forced its potent law 

In that bold breast ; for long had he resigned 

The love and fear of heaven to the wind ; 

Repented not, nor counted with dismay, 

The days of his salvation lost for aye. 

For how could he atone that villain fact^ 

A brother's murder, that self-damning act ? 

Would heaven receive a blood-stained craven's prayer ? 

He knew the worst — then wherefore live in fear ? 

The prophet cursed the slave of coward mind. 

He'd leave at least a soldier's fame behind. 

in. 

He once possessed a heart that shrunk from guilt. 
And shuddered e'en at blood in battle spilt ; 
Ere vain ambition dulled the nicer sense. 
That waits on meek, contented innocence. 
Ask ye, what brought a heart of noble flame 
To brand renown with fratricide's swarth name ? 
'Twas broken faith first turned his heart to stone, 
Then hatred grew with stern misfortune's frown, 
For all the world forsook him ; first reviled 
His guiltless name with blood — then smote his child — 
Then urged to murder ! his distempered brain. 
Why what had he to love in this wide world of pain ? 



28 OPOLEYTA. 

When first Abdullah at ambition^s call 
Usurped the order of Camballia's wall, 
And answered thus his true, objected crime : 
*• Abba, these domes I hold for future time, 
" Till thou shait drive me forceful from the sway 
" Of walls I've guarded many a bloody day; 
" Since none so well may claim them, know my thought, 
" As he that for their safety oft hath fought : 
" Nay more — henceforth on equal terms we meet, 
" If either chief his martial peer entreat; 
'' Rebuke is vain — 1 heed no despot word ; 
" My right ? — a daring mind, a yet unconquered sword." 
Of old this answer had a chief conveyed. 
For whom Abdullah ever had display'd 
A mindful love ; and years of recompense 
The chief designed to soften one offence : 
For once, in headstrong passion's reckless burst. 
He smote the Raujepoot, and his God accursed ; 
His temple shrines defiled, and on his cast. 
In rating mood, reproachful stigma passed, 

IV. 

They who the sunny scenes of Ind recall, 

Its thousand tribes, its fancies mystical ; 

They who in that soft clime have sweetened hours, 

With India's sex in ever blooming bowers ; 

In heavenly lassitude inhaling bliss, 

And cheering love with every burning kiss. 

From mouths immortal Moossoolmauns might greet, 

With pearls themselves, as mountain roses, sM'eet. 



CANTO 11. '29 

Oh { they who ever sued for love's last prize, 
And weened consent from half-dejected eyes, 
Wreathhig those jetty locks, and fragrant braids, 
That like soft tendrils flaunt on orient maids. 
And marked offending will, and modest grace, 
Successive flush frail beauty's kindling face: 
Remember too, religion's slighted name 
Will rouse immediate the vindictive flame ; 
And softness chased, exasperate the blood, 
Fierce as their venomed snake '^ expands its hood. 
Abdullah deemed the Raujepoot had forgiven 
His gods debased, and unavenged heaven ; 
But — list my tale, and see how zealot ire 
In Pagan breasts can kindle pious fire. 
Mark how the soul is trammelled, how deca)ed. 
How dulled the mind by superstition's shade. 

V. 

When first Abdullah's great, capacious soul, 

Disdaining rule, impatient of control, 

Cast ofl" the servile bonds of fealty, 

And dread to seize Camballia's realty ; 

Mirza, whose loyal mood reproved an act. 

He hoped, by guile or awe, to counteract, 

Immediate bore Abdullah's darling boy. 

His only solace, his unfailing joy. 

Conveyed him to the walls of Opoleyt ; and there 

Awhile consigned him to a faquir's care : 

And hoped that that dear hostage would regain 

The rebel chief to loyalty again. 



30 OPOLEYTA. 

But when the Moslem's prince the mandate gave 
To yield the fortress, and his son to save, 
Abdullah sternly swore to hold his reign : 
And for his son — he held such menace vain. 
For should he dare his single hair to harm, 
Abdullah's nerve, though old, still nerved a father's arm. 
How little threats deter when injured pride 
O'er cautious counsel rolls its ruffled tide ! 
'Twas Mahadev bore the Moossoolmaun's contempt 
Of Abba's wrath, and dared his power to tempt ; 
To tempt that strength which few can nobly use. 
But kings, those despot lords, for aye abuse. 
To Mirza too the rending tidings bore, 
Abdullah's hand had shed Liyaiva's gore ; 
Bliss of his soul ! in life's expanding bloom ; 
To that drear ocean, the mysterious tomb, 
Which none have seen, yet all with vain desire 
Depict as w oe, and doubtful hope inspire, 
Was she foredoomed : those shades that save 
Our woes, the dark, Lethean, grateful grave. 
Mahadev returned, but not his chief to greet 
With joyous words ; performed the savage threat 
Himself had seen. Ay! Mirza smiled to see 
The brand of justice act his own decree. 
The boy was slain : nor kindred moved, nor ruth 
To spare the tender helplessness of youth. 
" Be his th' atonement then, since his the deed : 
" Hell be his lot ! let that fell Mirza bleed." 
The words were passed, nor set the evening's sun, 
Mahadev declared the bloody mandate done. 



CANTO II. 31 

Three ruffian slaves the brother's life had reft, 

And bathed their falchions to the very heft. 

At that same fane, where wave the plantains green, 

Cambalha's towers and Opoleyt between, 

The brother died : achieved the deed of blood, 

The chieftain fell before the temple god ; 

Yet well availed him his repugnant hand, 

Twain cravens dropt beneath his well-plied brand. 

VI. 

Full sixteen years were spent in languid war 
Since Mirza felt th' assassin's cimeter ; 
Full sixteen years since Opoleyt decreed 
Abdullah's offspring should atone, and bleed ; 
And sixteen years were fled since Mahadev's rest 
Was banished from his dark, unhallowed breast. 
Guilt rarely binds nefarious hearts in one ; 
Its promised store, the race but just begun 
May knit awhile ; mistrust succeeds to sin, 
And each doubts each to be what both have been. 
Suspicion pauses — memory perturbs. 
The conscious fellow of thy deed disturbs. 
Not blest art thou with others to transgress. 
The damning proofs of thine unworthiness ; 
The very scenes which innocence hath loved 
Hath guilt deformed, their charms are all removed. 
Oh ! happier far to roam the alien wild, 
Than tread that home thy villany defiled. 

Within the walls of Opoleyt withdrew 
To banish memory, the dark Hindu. 



32 OPOLEYTA. 

Vain hope ! to blot what her firm hand hath strook^ 

Hath writ in her tenacious, faithful book : 

Yes — ^her imperishable records tell 

The truth. To sin — her treasured scenes are hell ; 

To virtue, woe — a mingled tear — no more ; 

Sighs still attend her melancholy store. 

The sterner Moslem lived : cast not away 

Remorse to sin, to peril no dismay. 

Firm, in his bands confiding, though but few, 

(He w ell had tried them, oft had proved them true) ; 

Revenge with unsuccumbing patience sought, 

Night's latest throe^the first that morning brought. 

And when out-numb'ring hosts would oft oppose, 

He lulled to heedlessness unwary foes ; 

Knew when to strike, and then so strongly smote, 

That veterans wondered at the deeds he wrought ; 

In ill success undaunted, calm, and great, 

And still redoubted even in defeat, 

He was for soldiers born : he seemed combined 

To gain and rule the rugged soldier's mind ; 

Lord of his host, not thence from hardship free ; 

If scant their fare, that scanty fare had he. 

Were brooks their drink ? the same he drank. To those 

The ground a bed ? the earth gave him repose. 

Untented they? that proper chief would lie 

Himself beneath blue heaven's high canopy. 

He walked in mystery, because he saw 

On vulgar minds that it imposes awe. 

Though cautious, yet his bands could never see 

The pausing mood which chills their energy ; 



CANTO Ii; S3 

If danger reared its front, he led them on, 
In every bold emprize the foremost one : 
Warmed tbeir aspiring hearts with love of fame, 
Tliat self-sustaining fire, a martial flame ; 
With lowliest bands the equal perils shared, 
And never shrunk, though ruin's self appeared ; 
Resolved to live invariably great, 
Or perish, princelike, with his conquered state. 

VII. 

Sagoona now, within the hostile gates, 
The stern, vindictive Moslem's ire aw aits ; 
With anxious doubt, and ear applied to ground. 
And breath repressed, she chilled at every sound 
That toward her cell in secret movement crept ; 
Now loosed her ebon locks,'* and softly wept, 
As on one dear memorial she gazed ; 
And oft, in hope, her eyes to heaven she raised. 
Yes, that bright gem that bade her woes arise, 
And flow those rival chrystals from her eyes, 
A father whilom gave her aye to wear, 
And bind the fragrant tresses of her hair ; 
That pledge to save, when he could hope to be 
Remembered, but in her felicity. 
But he, perhaps, renounced his daughter fled. 
Condemned her fugitive, or deemed her dead ; 
Or doubtful held his anxious search in vain, 
Unconscious of a daughter's captive chain. 
Distress made each affection doubly dear. 
And brighter scenes of happier time's career 

F 



34 OPOLEYTA. 

Recalled ; but blacked this dismal sea, 
And dulled the prospects of futurity. 

Voluptuous ye ! born in the lap of ease, 
Whose languid sense invention toils to please ; 
So are your hours of peril and dismay 
Made dark by memory of happier day ; 
Then friends remote are misery and care^ 
And love is horror — distance is despair. 
When tossed on ocean's troubled sea ye roam. 
How oft ye cast a cowering look to home ! 
What! if thou cleavest Cathayan floods afar,'* 
That rave and jangle in eternal war; 
Or hear the dreary wilderness of waves 
Repine, and murmur o'er its myriad graves : 
How the sweet hours, incredibly divine, 
Of love and halcyon ease that once were thine, 
Opposed to such appalling grandeur, roll 
Despair and darkness o'er thy sinking soul. 

But he, the utter stranger to delight, 
Whose brightest hour of joy was never bright, 
Beholds, unmoved, suri'ounding dangers shed 
Their wildest gloom on his devoted head. 
No bliss to greet him — he, no friend to mourn ; 
Why, what recks he to pass the doubtful bourne: 
Indifferent he the foam-crowned surge can mark, 
With stunning tempest smite the giddy bark ; 
From liquid vales behold the billow curl. 
And bursting mountains wild destruction hurl. 
Born but the chilling lore of grief to know, 
Oh ! what is death, if life confer but woe : 



CANTO II. 25 

VIII. 

iVbduUah, wrapt in horrible delight, 

In vengeful thought spent all that sleepless night; 

The third day's eve the bright green flag shall fly, 

His host encamped before the enemy: 

His martial band increased from hour to hour, 

And warlike wanderers swelled the Moslem power. 

But not to war's precarious chance would he 

Defer his purpose of malignity. 

Sagoona now was his, and, if he would. 

Revenge was his for slaughtered Syed's blood. 

Awhile he mused, with head on palm reposed. 

On all his stern, vindictive heart proposed : 

Recalled his injuries, and gave assent 

To deeds beyond damnation's punishment. 

He rose with folded arms — on earth his look — 

Advanced — and paused — and yet a pace he took — 

Beat on the ground his foot — looked to and fro — 

Drew his deep breath — and cried " It shall be so !" 

IX. 

Abdullah passed; but chillness on him fell 

As near he drew that virgin's dungeon cell ; 

His mighty arm removed the bar and chain 

That bound the captive in her drear domain. 

The door half-oped ; he faltered — listened — heard — 

No, none were near — but loneliness deterred ; 

The midnight breeze, by fits that died and grew. 

Seemed to deplore the deed about to do. 

No, none were there to awe him : all alone 

In sleep the maid oppressed the death-cold stone 



S6 OPOLEYTA. 

Stole some few hours from sorrow and distress, 
A short, though sweet release from wretchedness. 
Fixed in the horrid purpose to destroy, 
What dark atrocities that mind employ ! 
And shall revenge debase that martial hand, 
With woman's blood to stain the battle brand ? 
Yea, all's resolved: the shame be what it will, 
Abdullah swears revenge, and stoops to kill. 
He ne'er had seen her — no ; this fated night 
The first he saw her, The expiring light 
That pours from yonder niche a feeble stream, 
These trickling walls, his purpose dark beseem, 
The emblems these of misery and death. 
He lays his hand on baldric and on sheath ; 
Would not disturb her dreams, for doubtful fear 
Of tender orison, or soothing prayer. 
The blow once struck without reflection — good ! 
But thought is hostile to such deeds of blood. 
The steel was bare, and near the Painim drew, 
With eyes averse, that slumbering, sweet Hindu. 
His arm exalted, snatched one instant glance 
To guide the wound ; her angel countenance 
Suspends him there, irresolutely mad; 
Willing, yet shrinking from a deed so bad — 
In dreadful fluctuation tossed, inclined 
His heart to mercy, to revenge his mind. 
With blade uplifted— motionless — aghast, 
Creation's loveliest, purest flower to blast. 
Sagoona's head lies o'er her shackled arm, 
Where rugged manacles displace the charm ; '" 



CANTO II. 37 

And in their iron gripe those limbs confine, 

Which seem too tender e'en for flowers to twine. 

That pale, transparent robe that o'er her throws 

Folds pure and white as Himolaya's snows, '"^ 

Reveals a form of lineaments so fair, 

That one might vow Parvati slumbers there. 

So bland that front, it speaks of all within. 

There lives no sullen portraiture of sin : 

That placid brow, and those long lashes throM? 

A feeble shadow o'er the streams of woe. 

Which, chrystallizing in their tearful streak. 

Now glisten on her pale and sorrowed cheek. 

Her black, bright ringlets round her bosom floM^, 

Waved by the breath of every heaving throe ; 

Exhaling fragrance from her lips of rose, 

Sweet as the breeze from Irem's ^* bower that blows ; 

There reigns an awful beauty o'er the whole, 

A feminine serenity of soul 

Recall those nights in equinoctial seas. 
When scarce a wave is heard, or felt a breeze ; 
When the moon, gliding through her cloudless steep, 
Sheds a pale lustre on the twinkling deep ; 
Ocean slow heaving, and the winds at rest — 
So softly swelled, and sighed Sagoona's breast. 

X. 

His giant form the Moslem o'er her bent. 
And wondered what his inward weakness meant : 
He saw her sleeping, would — but could not smite. 
His potent arm disowned its wonted might. 



>8 OPOLEYTA. 

Sagoona moved : her clanking fetters dart 
Forgotten feelings to his lion heart. 
How ! did he quail to meet the waking eye 
Of her he doomed to quick eternity? 
Could helpless innocence appal that mood, 
That mind so long familiarized with blood ? 
Oh ! there's a potent principle within, 
That doth not banish, yet denounces sin. 
E'en thus primaeval Adam sought to fly 
The wrathful glance of the Almighty eye, 
Which saw creation's Paradise so fair, 
Renounced, abandoned, at a woman's prayer. 
Dear sinner ! man's seducer ere his fall. 
We hail thee now — our happiness, — our all. 
The Moslem strove with nature — vain endeavour ! 
Shed a true tear, and faltered " Never ! never!" 
Dropt from his guilty grasp the clattering brand, 
And fled that scene, astounded and unmanned. 

Up rose Sagoona, starthng at the sound. 
Her timid eyes cast fearfully around : 
The dungeon wicket oped ! a sabre there ! 
Then life's last ebb — destruction's arm was near. 
Warmth on its grasp that cimetar retained. 
And purpose fell and horrible explained. 
The maiden knelt, with eyes to heaven upcast, 
And called on Vishnu ^^ in that hour — her last. 
Resentment lived not in her, but were there 
A resignation meek, a world of prayer ; 
There anguish held its sorrowful abode. 
With deathless hope, and confidence in God. 



CANTO II. 39 

XI. 

In all the horrors that accusing thought. 

And baffled purpose, in Abdullah wrought, 

He gained that couch where still 'twas his to wear 

Uneasy hours, and nights of sleepless care; 

But still to ponder o'er a guilty past. 

And sternly brood o'er that terrific waste — 

Dun clime of streamless sands, and scorching sky. 

Eternal state of guilt's futurity. ^° 

He sought repose, but not repose was there ; 

He paced his halls ; then breathed the evening air : 

Passed by the portal guard, that marked, with awe, 

Unusual care their thoughtful chieftain gnaw. 

Abdullah points his hand — they ope the gate, 

" I walk awhile, my coming soon awaic." 

The jarring bars, and clanking chains, aloud 

Hurl their dull echo thro' the arches proud. 

The rankling Painim to a wood withdrew, 

That through night's calm its sylvan odors threw ; 

A limpid streamlet, 'neath the moonlight ray, 

In plaintive murmurs held its glimmering way ; 

Its banks bestrown with palms, that now repose. 

For zephyr's wing might scarcely wave the rose, 

Or waft an odor o'er the gentle tide. 

From flowrets pale that dight its sloping side. 

The groaning cocoas, idly to and fro, 

Wave gently as the stieams that glide below ; 

And if a fragrant breath of air be given 

Benignly from the airy sprites of heaven, 

Hark ! from the mournful conch, or vesper chime, 

Flow the dull records of predestined time ; 



40 OPOLEYTA. 

Enhancing in these awful hours of gloom 

The solemn melancholy of the tomb. 

Far o'er the wide expanse of watery mees,*^ 

The ling'ring knoll still floats upon the breeze; 

Makes lovelier with its dole this silent glade, 

And solitude more exquisitely sad. 

Guilt here might shed its penitential tear, 

But virtuous souls would feel exalted here : 

Here each dear memory in the holy breast, 

In solemn woe might find a pleasing rest. 

Scenes such as these unfriended friends have sought. 

Absorbed in swelling, melancholy thought ; 

Here life's neglected pilgrim would delay 

His hard career, and sigh his cares away; 

Here weep in patient, unavailing tears. 

For ever past, the bliss of early years. 

Days of my youth ! how oft on Indian streams 

Have shades like these induced my wayward dreams, 

Ah! happy times! irremeably sweet 

As the bright lymphs that rippled at my feet. 

XII. 

Oh 1 how unlike these shades' celestial peace, 
The storms that rive the heart of wickedness ! 
Prevailing Conscience ! Pleasure's gayest hour 
Quells not thy stern and thought-compelHng pow'r ; 
But when, removed from the disturbing world, 
Life's ample chart is faithfully unfurled ; 
When vicious monarchs hear no minion's voice, 
Dispelling thought, and bidding guilt rejoice; 



CANTO II. 41 

When they observe impartial nature's boon 

Is bliss to all, and not to them alone ; 

See cloudless skies, and heaven's bright stars reveal 

One common light, one universal weal, 

Mark the still waters glide in peace away, 

Nor heed the frantic fool that bids them stay, 

Despite the tale of parasites and slaves. 

The tyrants' bane, those base, obsequious knaves; 

These are the hours which teach such men to know, 

That virtue only genders joy below : 

Go — seek some solitude, reflect, and scan ; 

The better being is the happier man. 

Abdullah's form beside the stream was laid, 
And all was peace within that slumbering glade ; 
There, as he sought to quell the hectic flame 
That scorched his mind, and coursed his mighty frame, 
The dark reflections of the past arose, 
On his stern mind their torture to impose ; 
The pageantries of state remote, now pride 
Began delusion's victim to deride. 
" Yes, all is vain : what happiness is mine, 
" O'er armed hosts pre-eminent to shine, 
" Yet mark in every eye that shuns my frown, 
" Felicity far greater than mine own ? 
" To know, the veriest slave who wields the brand 
" In battle field, and rears his warrior hand, 
" Undaunted dares on carnaged plains to die, 
" As brave — as great — more virtuous than I.'* 
Virtue by turns and vice his breast assailed, 
One other ebb, and heaven had prevailed. 



42 OPOLEYTA. 

" Ullah Kuieem ! " the golden dreams of youtli^ 

" Ambition's mockery and bright untruth, 

" Conspired my better argument to blind, 

" And leave me now the friendless of mankuid. 

*' Yes, I remember well that all conceived 

" Me great, and I their presages believed ; 

" That I disdained a fellow in my sphere, 

" My soul aspired, and never quailed with fear ; 

" Mine was the arm in perils to relieve, 

" The first to front them, and the last to leave. 

^' But now — redoubted, still I wield the rod, 

" And for my hour I reign the people's god : 

" With needless blood ne'er stained my wanton steel, 

" For they who felt its edge had dared to feel ; 

" Ambition's steps, irrevocably stern, 

" Admit no pause, no penitent return. 

" What ! had I quailed when scruples bade me stay, 

" And trifled greatness and command away, 

" Who then had said that virtue held my hand ? 

" Some bolder villain had secured my band, 

" And I, desertless of my dauntless host, 

" The guilty craven had displayed at most. 

'^ But I contemned the phantoms of remorse, 

" And force was mine, and I directed force ; 

" Curst with aspiring energies of soul, 

" To court no middle glory, but the whole ; 

" I bore dominion, and 1 dared to kill 

" Opposing slaves — the future what it will. 

" Had conscience checked me midway in my guilt, 

" My gore had paid what old ambition spilt: 



CANTO ir. 43 

" Abdullah ne'er shall bear the world's rebuke, 
" A slave unworthy of the power he took ; 
" But ever constant to my bold emprize, 
" Detest they may, but never shall despise." 

XIII. 

Thus as the Painim mused, reclined on ground, 
His ear received some distant footstep's sound ; 
With hand on earth his body's weight to raise, 
And ear directed to the woodland maze, 
He paused to mark — again that tread was heard; 
Abdullah rose, and loudly cried " The word !" 
No answer came, but crashing boughs declare 
The forest beast, or secret foeman near ; 
His brand he seized, and gazing through the screen 
Of crackling shrubs, and trellis creepers green, 
A form of human mould espied, endued 
With falchion fair, and studded target good. 
"Who comes?" - . 

" A friend." 

" And whence? ho! stand.'' 
" Whence recks not thee ; I seek CambalUa's baud." 
^' That verdant turban speaks thy lofty line. 
" Ber to &ulamut ! "^ if I well divine,. 
" From sacred Ali is thy proud descent : 
" Resolve me, Syed ^* — whither art thou bent ? 
" Camballia's gates at sunset ever close, 
" And her broad moat around its barrier throws ; 
" No access now her portals will afford, 
" The morrow's morn will see that power restored. 



44 OPOLEYTA. 

^' Na/, pass not on, nor grasp thy shining steel, 
" I too possess that self-same hard appeal." 

" I know you not, nor care my steps to stay 
'^ In converse harsh, or enter on affray. 
" I heed thee not : remonstrancer, give room, 
" Nor tempt me, desperate, on thy luckless doom. 
" No warrior awes me while I bear my brand, 
'' Unwonted I to yield when slaves command. 
" Obtrusive man, to yon proud arch I hie; 
" This night I reach it, or attempting die." 

" Desist, vain youth, my firm resolve to move, 
" You pass not, unopposed, this guarded grove. 
" Thou know'st me not! 'Tis true, or else thy tongue 
*' Had died in silence ere its words it flung : 
" Not thine, presuming stranger, to enlarge 
" Thy haughty tone — -despite that knotted targfe ; 
" I scorn the odds which now thou seem'st to bear, 
" Yet more disdain the heart that bends to fear. 
" I charge thee stay, nor dare my blood to d'ouse, 
" One further step my glaive must needs oppose." 
Rage touched tlie stranger's soul, his shield 
He cast indignant on the verdant field. 
" Now, base marauder, tell me, have I shown 
" A heart as brave and dauntless as thine own .? 
" No odds seek I to meet my fellow's ire, 
" Yet tell thee still, no contest I desire : 
" But, midnight prowler, urge me not too far, 
" I hate vain blood as I rejoice in war." 



CANTO II. 45 

XIV. 

Abdullah sneered unspeakable disdain, 
Forced a grim laugh, and measured o'er the man, 
" What specious, smooth-tongued caitiff meet I here, 
" That chills with fright, yet would impart his fear ? 
" Whence can so bold, so fierce a Moslem come, 
" To daunt old warriors, and to strike them dumb ? 
" Thy former lord, perhaps, awaits the day 
" Of some approaching and destructive fray, 
" And thou hast fled to save thy polished glaive, 
" A dastard pandar, or deserting slave." 

Swift as the lightning flash that rives the pole 
The stranger's blade sprung forth ; and from his soid, 
With all the bitterness of taunted pride, 
He told Abdullah to his teeth — he lied ! 
Abdullah started, wondering, not in fear, 
Cast a keen eye, and fixed his green dustar. 
The combat quicken'd, clash to clash replied. 
And skill and courage shone on either side ; 
Now clang their swords, bright fires the vivid steel, 
They close, recede, precipitate, and wheel. 
Each, as he viewed, with death-denouncing look, 
His bold antagonist, with fury shook. 
Awhile they pause — their eyes such lustre wave 
As fires fierce beaming from a murky cave : 
Abdullah's stroke possessed the nicer truth, 
The stranger's hand the vigorous nerve of youth. 
They urge, recoil, impel, desist, respire ; 
Glance rivets glance, observed each dumb desire. 
His soul now centering in his arm, at length 
The stranger smote with more than mortal strength, 



46 OPOLEYTA. 

Beat down the Moslem's cimeter, and stood 
i\bove his foe, like monster of the wood, 
Whose sated jaws, too indolent to slay, 
In dubious clemency yawn o'er the prey. 
" Rise I" cried the youth, as with a haughty frown 
He cast the Moslem's captive anlace down : 
" Yes, life be thine; remember him who gave, 
" A dastard pandar, a deserting slave !' 

XV. 
Abdullah's haughty dignity disdained 
To take the abject boon which now remained ; 
His eyes upcast displayed that hateful thought. 
Security with degradation bought. 
" No, dauntless youth, thy falchion's point impart 
" To the red sources of a wounded heart ; 
" Before thee lies, whom once mankind revered, 
" The mighty courted, and the wicked feared. 
" Oh ! times long passed, despair and shame remain, 
" Rack my high mind, and hold my soul's domain. 
" Strike then, conjured by me, my jfleeting breath 
" Will hover careless on the gales of death." 
Touched at that grand indifference to fate 
Which cowering earthlings dare not, cannot rate, 
The youthful stranger, with emotion, came, 
And raised with reverence that aged frame ; 
In terms of generous, sympathetic grief. 
Assuaged the aged, agonizmg chief, 
" Illustrious foe," the Painim then replied, 
" Far sooner I in this affray had died. 



CANTO II. 47 

" Than owe to human mercy what I hate, 

" An hour's suspension of protracted fate : 

" Trust me, I had not held this toilsome boon 

" From abject foemau, no ! but had as soon 

" Dug to my heart's recess this dagger's hilt, 

" And smiled in pleasure on the blood it spilt; 

" But thou, great stranger, hast my mind subdued, 

" And this' wild heart with distant hope imbued. 

" Yes, if there be on this unfriendly earth 

" Such sovereign souls, and such majestic worth, 

" Why life is well — But hold ! the gift I use 

" Avails me not, if still thou should'st refuse 

" To let me quit, through night's concealing shade, 

" The guarded precincts of this woodland glade ; 

" And thou must rest until Camballia's horn 

" Announce free entrance on the break of morn ; 

" Moreover swear, that aye thy mind shall keep 

" These deeds of darkness in eternal sleep." 

" Each boon be granted : when the early sun 
" Shall his fierce course from yonder mountains run, 
" I seek Camballia's tow'rs." The Painim took 
His way transverse the pebble-bedded brook ; 
Wound through the mazes of the sylvan brake — 
Was gone. Now morning's dim and orient flake 
Hung idly o'er the distant hills of blue ; 
And misty clouds of swift receding dew, 
In fleeting vokunes o'er the freshened meads, 
Proclaim'd that Carmasacshi's ^^ anxious steeds 
Were yoked; the gorgeous east refulgent shone, 
As the glad god the mountain summits won ; 



48 OPOLEYTA. 

Melodious symphonies the woodlands ring, 
And his bright renovated glory sing : 
Fresh were the airs that o'er the champaign blew. 
And shook night's sorrow from the flowret's hue ; 
Revealed, before the god's resplendent car, 
Camballia's yellow battlements afar. 
Bold bastions, parapets, and turrets high, 
And long green streamers fluttering to the sky, 
Extended shone ; and from its highest tower 
The ensign waved, and burst the cannon roar, 
The brazen trumpet sounded martial glee, 
The draw-bridge fell, Camballia's gates were free. 



KND OF CANTO 11. 



OPOLEYTA. 

CANTO III. 



Hope leads us anxious on from hour to hour^ 
Her bright green prospects still afar displays, 
In life's severity reveals her power, 
When sweet imagination round her plays, 
The flattering promise of more halcyon days. 
Can Hope e'er vanish ? Oh ! she waves us on. 
And dries our tears with consolation's rays, 
E'en when the world's vain cares are nearly done, 
Hope sweetly beams as when our years of love begun. 

11. 

But if there be a time when Hope expires, 
And fell Despair her cold, dull, vapour throws 
O'er Hope's celestial, animating fires, 
'Tis when a lover's desolation flows 
From the dear idol who neglects his woes : 
Here fancy may not gild the distant year, 
Nor round futurity her joys dispose ; 



60 OPOLEYTA. 

But rumination aye the heart must wear. 
And melancholy dole, Cimmerian despair. 

TIL 

Within Camballia's turrets high 

Two mutual hearts sincerely sigh ; 

Yet hope's sweet solaces they prove, 

To mitigate the throes of love. 

Oh ! what is Love ? An anxious tide, 

Dispensing rills on every side. 

Yet rolling, continently strong, 

One deep continued course along : 

Its early stream meand'ring ever. 

Its lively current failing never; 

Obstructed now by closing mounds. 

Now rushing o'er its flowery bounds ; 

And wand'ring till itself be spent, 

Obedient to its wayward bent. 

Like Hybla's bee, here wastes an hour. 

First sips the sweet, then flees the flow'r ; 

Awhile, in search of fresh delight. 

It ranges where the blooms invite ; 

It knows not rest, from peace it flies, 

In wild illusion wastes, and dies. 

Oh ! life, thy hours for love are few, 

And he that e'er love's blessing knew. 

Though fortune frown upon his day, 

Would hardly cast thy cares away j 

'Tis love alone, that to thy woes 

Our weary being can compose ; 



CANTO III. 51 

For love we live, vfe die for love, 
And dying hail its joys above. 
Yea ! if there be a heaven on high, 
A state of immortality, 
A home exempt from worldly care. 
There genial hearts shall blend for ever. 
And lovers true be parted never : 
And love — angelic love be there. 

IV. 

All other feelings leave the heart. 

Ere pure affection doth depart ; 

Ambition's projects fleet away. 

As youtli's credulities decay : 

Wild mirth and revelry recede, 

As sober thought, and yeais proceed. 

And old companions slumber with the dead. 

E'en when the friend we loved from birth. 

Hath laid his mouldered form in earth. 

Then love may minister relief. 

And wave, at least, its rainbow o'er our grief. 

That passion soothed my boyhood's tears. 

Half staunched the woe of early years ; 

When friendless— fatherless — alone, 

I sought the realms of Asia's sun ; 

And sadly pausing o'er my doom. 

Oft mused, in melancholy gloom. 

On floods that bore me from my home : 

As wont at even to repine, 

Yet think what happiness were mine, 



52 OPOLEYTA. 

If those self waves that passed me by. 
Should meet Matilda's pensive eye. 

V. 

The stranger bears the sword and shield, 
For him he quelled on equal field, 
Unconscious of the mighty foe 
Vv ho sunk beneath his falchion's blow ; 
Nor deemed his uncorrupted sense, 
That clemency could cast offence : 
Yet had he weened the worst of all. 
He had not stayed at peril's call 5 
In love's omnipotence he strove, 
And dangers — there are none to love. 
There's not a task imposed on man 
Our hearts are so unapt to span, 
To love the ruth by which we live. 
And learn our own forgivers to forgive. 

For obligation o'er the soul 

Throws hard dependence and control ; 

And our hearts swelling to be free. 

Disdain that stern indignity. 
Abdullah rankled at the fight, 

The living shame of yesternight ; 

Thanks to the shade of that lone hour. 

And the deep foliage of the bower, 

The chieftain's front, and guise concealed, 

At most imperfectly revealed. 

Might baffle recollection's eye. 

And keenest scrutiny defy. 



CANTO III. 53 

VI. 

Sheikh Hyder*^ to Abdullah came, 
With naked feet, and low salaam : 
" One youth, who joins our martial band, 
'* Protests himself of Persic land ; 
" Yet round him a mysterious air 
" Denies the fact his words declare. 
" The fair complexion of Iran, 
*' The stately port of Farsistan, 
" Indeed, he bears — his suUenness 
" Belies his tale of lowliness. 
"He deigns no answer — deeply sighs, 
" And contemplation stays his eyes : 
" I hold some dark and secret deed 
" This doubtful youth must hither lead. 
" 'Twere well my chieftain's self should see 
" This piece of proud obscurity." 
Instant Abdullah's mind foretold 
This sullen wight, the stranger bold, 
Whose magnanimity could be 
Surpassed but by his clemency. 
The Moslem's heart was truly brave- 
Opposing foes he oft forgave; 
But pride had so within him grown, , 
Himself — he spurned at mercy shown. 
The stranger came : Abdullah's blood 
Rushed to his heart in rebel flood ; 
Rolled from his fiery speaking eye 
The pangs of sharp indignity. 



o4> OPOLEYTA. 

The stranger's mien was nobly thrown, 
A brow that had beseemed a crown ; 
An eye to all great feelings true, 
A cheek of meditation's hue ; 
His fresh vermilion lip, forsooth. 
But shaded with the down of youth ; 
In graceful negligence abound 
Black, shining locks his neck around. 
The turban, o'er his temples rolled. 
Was knotted by a moon of gold ; 
Its tint as fresh a verdure yields. 
As reigns o'er Yemen's happy fields. 
The niveous angreka he More, 
And o'er his lofty shoulder bore. 
Of roseate hue, the palampore. 
Around his leg of naked strength 
The buskin cast its midway length ; 
Damasco's steel, in idle pride, 
Was swinging at his martial side ; 
His waist was bound by baldric fair, 
The better hand upheld a spear ; 
The left sustained, with brazen rows, 
The targe of the rhinoceros. 

VII. 

The Painun writhed his lip in scorn — 
'•' Methinks, fair boy, thou wast not born 
'* In hardship's school to purchase fame, 
" Or gain in battle-fields a name : 



CANTO III. 55 



" I deem the gentle form, forsooth, 
" Of such a sleek, and pretty youth, 
" Were fitter far for haram guard, 
" With verdant lattice grating barred, 
" Than on the plains of war t' expose 
" That beardless face, those lips of rose, 
" From Persian land 'tis said you come 
" To seek, in feuds, a wealthier doom ; 
" But here thy floating locks to lave, 
" Goolab nor ittur sweet we have ; 
" Nor time we yield for sweetest lay, 
" To sing the charms of Mosellay.*' 
" 'Twere sad that on thy simple brow 
" A hurtful sabre's mark should glow, 
" Or that a hand so fair in hue, 
" By toil a deeper tint should rue." — 
The youth perceived this ii'ony, 
Remarked the Moslem's scornful eye, 
And cast him back a glance as high. 
" The hand thou deemest of dye so good, 
" Was ne'er imbrued in harmless blood ; 
" But still thou'lt find a heart I bear 
" Devoid of guilt, and strange to fear. 
" This brow's simplicity, I trow, 
" Will still retain its simple glow ; 
" Nor would I change its peaceful mood 
" For one revealing deeds of blood ; 
^' It shames not me my youthful stage, 
" 'Tis happier far than guilty age : 



56 OPOLEYTA. 

" And for my gentle form, so bland, 
" Your daring purpose but command, 
" Thou'lt own I enter battle's din 
** Undauntedly, since free from sin." 

VIII. 

The stedfast gaze of that young eye 
Appalled the chief's audacity; 
Nor less the words he sternly used 
Their keen severity diffused. 
Abdullah's strong emotions shewed 
What pangs to hidden guilt he owed; 
And happier far had been that chief, 
If death had brought its last relief. 
Than thus to live in doubt, and fear 
Detection's low, malicious sneer. 
The Moslem's faltering tongue resumed : 
" Whence those exalted terms assumed, 
" By one of thine inferior state, 
" Perplexes all ; at length relate, 
" And boldly speak, mysterious man, 
" From whence thy pilgrimage began; 
" Thy fortunes, birth, religion, shew, 
" And ponder M'hat to truth you owe." — 
" Chieftain, my martial mind contemns 
" The falsehood which thy law condemns ; 
" I seek not lies for my defence, 
" Armed with the shield of innocence : 
" I came not here a tale to tell, 
" With vain report my name to swell ; 



CANTO III. 57 



" Enough for thee to know, I bear 
" In thy defence the sword and spear. 
" My pilgrim feet have strayed afar 
" In various lands, and courted war; 
" The level meads of Teflis knew 
" That in her feuds the blade I drew ; 
" I've often heard the war horse tramp 
" Of Persic field, and Indian camp ; 
" I've roved the garden of Cashmir ;"^ 
" And dealt my blows for Champanir, 
*' Where Guzeraut's prolific earth 
" To nature yields abundant birth ; 
** The Babylonian wreck I've seen, 
" And borne my toils in Yemen green ; 
" Have felt the winds of heaven sweep 
** The dangerous Erythraean"^ deep ; 
" And round Carmeena's rocks heard rave 
" The howling Caspian's ruffled wave. 
" Of this enough — the faith I boast 
" Brings no disgrace upon thy host ; 
** My prayers are sped to that abode 
" Where reigns the universal God. 
" Internal precepts teach my heart 
" To act a true and virtuous part : 
" I love my friend, I fight my foe, 
" Yet to the vanquished mercy show \ 
" On no religion bast my sneer, 
" In alien faiths ne'er interfere ; 
" My youth toils little to explore 
**^ The subtile creeds of pious lore \ 



53 OPOLEYTA. 

" To Mecca's shrine I neither bend, 
" Nor turn the holy tomes of Zend."^'^ 

IX. 

Abdullah to Sheikh Hyder drew, 
Before his face the mantle threw ; 
Lowly he spake : the brow, the eye^ 
Imparted more — " ***** 
*********** 

« At midnight ***** 

<< * * * ay^ myself will go 

" The deed to view — 'twere better so.'* 

The stranger marked the meaning look, 
The thought that on Abdullah broke, 
And on his traitor face could read 
The germ of some atrocious deed. 
The Moslem to the stranger turned ; 
His brow was dark, his eye concerned : 
" Sheikh Hyder leads thee to thy care, 
" The charge is high, thy faith beware : 
" At hour of night thy arm prepare, 
" In secret deed the sword to bear. 
" Sheikh Hyder brings, in season due, 
" A scroll that bids thee what to do." 

They went : his eye the Painim bent 
Keen on the stranger as he went. 
And seemed to wish Camballia's host 
Had that mysterious creature lost : 
He liked him not — ^yet knew not why — 
His dauntless front, and noble eye, 



CANTO III. S9 

Haply recalled what he had been, 
Ere yet the slave of vice and sin. 

X. 

The pondering youth Sheikh Hyder led 

To where the sun, in western red. 

Full on the iron wicket fell, 

That closed Sagoona's dismal cell. 

That was his charge : when day should flee 

The scroll he'd bring, and dungeon key. — 

Divining what mysterious fact 
The Moslem chief designed to act ; 
What captive wight that prison barred. 
The stranger, musing, paced his guard. 
Haply the maid himself adored, 
In such oppressive thraldom poured. 
Unheeded and unheard, her grief 
Denied e'en sympathy's relief. 
Sagoona, from her grating bar. 

Mused on the slumbering wave below. 
Or sunshine battlements afar. 
That flanked the towers in lines of war. 

All glorious in their evening glow. 
The standard drooped — the breeze was gone ; 

If on the moat she cast her eye, 
It idly basked in w estern sun : 
The weed, that all the livelong day 
Had held its sweeping course away. 
In dormant, steady flakes did lie. 
The Moslem's malice had refined 
On torture to distract her mind — 



60 OPOLEYTA. 

The towers of Opoleyta reared, 
Far in the scene that now appeared, 
Those turrets, that surrounded all 
Her soul adored within their wall. 
Still would her tear-dimmed vision gaze 
On that blest home of happier days ; 
And ere the sun of heaven had waned, 

Her eyes still bent on Opoleyt, 
In pensive tones she thus complained, 

And gave the eve her descant sweet. 

SONG. 

" Ah ! long may thy spires in such lustre be given, 
" Ah ! long may thy ruler reign o'er thy domain ; 
" Tho' Sagoona's hard fate, from thy home to be riven, 
" Be a father's and lover's despair to complain !" 
Here died awhile the lone lament. 

Her tears remembered bliss bedewed ; 
Some deep-drawn sighs to hope she sent, 
Again the sad, wild plaint renewed. 

SONG RESUMED. 

" The gentle brooks that lave thy walls, 
" The shade that round thy temple falls, 
*' The blushing flag that streams on high, 
" The symbol of divinity, 

" Recall more halcyon times of yore; 
" Yet never more, his child to bless, 
" Shall Abba breathe a fond caress; 
" Nor more on me shall Appajee 
" His looks of lovely tenderness 

" Reveal; oh, never more!" 



CANTO III. 61 

XI. 

The stranger felt such ecstacy 

From that wild, plaintive harmony. 

As care-worn men are wont to find, 

When comfortless among mankind. 

They haply meet, on distant shores, 

The friend whom memory adores; 

Or, after long estrangement, see 

The cliffs of their nativity. 

The stranger paced his sentry ground. 

And all was dark and still around; 

The sounds which from that cell were given, 

Recalled a voice and thoughts of heaven ; 

Yet fortune could not thus impart 

The dearest wish that warmed his heart — 

Were those sweet strains that warbled kind, 

Illusions of his anxious mind ? 

Or did the tuneful Gopia raise 

With Krishen their celestial lays ? 

As tlirough the fields of ether blue, 

Now glittering with descending dew. 

They sailed sublime to Mutra's plain, ^^ 

The fields of youthful love's domain ? 

XII. 

The hour was come : Sheikh Hyder brought 

The scroll and key ; his brow was fraught 

With conscious shame of some foul work ; 

Mistrust within him seemed to lurk, 

As briefly thus the youdi he told, 

" Tlie scroll thy maadate xiiW unfold;" 



62 OPOLEYTA. 

And as he gave it to his hand, 

The 3^outh suspiciously he scanned. 

The chief was gone, and all was still, 

Save when the distant sentinel, 

In hollow challenge, hailed the sound 

Of lone night breeze that sighed around. 

Panting, the youth the key applied — 

Laid bar and massive chain aside; 

A moment listened — all was well ; 

Entered — yet holding breath to hear 

If watchful officer were near : 

Slowly he turned him round to view 

What captive here his durance drew — 

Amazed — incapable — he stared — 

Sagoona's fettered form appeared ; 

Nor she her ravished eyes could free 

From wildered gaze on — Appajee. 

Firm fixed in wonder and dehght 

They stood, mistrustful of their sight ; 

And both in giddy raptures strove 

To give an utterance to love. 

They did not dream — 'twas true this scene, 

Joy lighted either cheering mien ; 

Each to a lover's bosom flew. 

And mingled tears, oh ! how divinely true !- 

Emotions pure to lovers given 

Are like the sunshine rain of heaven ; 

The drops that from afiection stream 

Are gilded by an instant beam ; 

The rainy fields outspread below, 

Are beauteous in their sunny glow; 



CANTO III. 63 

And no wild smiles are half so sweet 
As felling tears when lovers meet. 

XIII. 

Tv/o lovers here beneath the sway 

Of foeman, in embraces lay 5 

Discovered — but one moment sped, 

They both might mingle with the dead. 

Ere yet yomig Appa's tale was told, 

He seized her bonds of iron cold ; 

And proudly looking toward the dome 

That gave the guilty Moslems home. 

He raised his glave above his head, 

Some burning drops indignant shed. 

And sternly shaking in his hand. 

With menace mute, his warrior brand, 

A more infernal curse implied 

Than all the wordiness of pride 

Had cast : then, turning tenderly. 

Gazed on Sagoona's tearful eye ; 

But burning at her captive band, 

Burst the vile fetter from her hand. 

And, with ineffable disdain. 

Damned the base craven that had fixed the chain. 

In haste he told th' attentive maid 

The tale, and combat of the glade ; 

By what auspicious chance it fell 

Himself should be her sentinel. 

" I deemed, when from our city's towers 

" Thy flight, ascribed to unknown powers. 



64 OPOLEYTA. 

'' Perplexed conjecture, that the foe, 

" Whose wall around these ramparts throw, 

" To gratify malignant hate 

" Had borne thee into captive state — 

" But hold !" as with a changing look 

The Moslem's scroll he pausing took : 

" Mysterious orders are enrolled 

" Within the paper that I hold." 

He read — and, ghastly pale, unmanned, 

Gave the maid's death-writ to her hand. 

Sagoona clasped him in embrace. 

Hid on his breast her flooded face ; 

Appa around her cast his arms, 

Enamoured of her tearful charms, 

Which dangerous distress endeared ; 

And more sincere their loves appeared 

Than if released from all control 

They drank the wildest raptures of the soul. 

They dwelt within the Moslem's power ; 

For grief's indulgence this no hour : 

Empassioned Appa on her breast 

A kiss of tenderness impressed — 

** Sagoona, hence ! thy threatened fate 

" To shun hereafter 'twere too late. 

" Within this hour, the gates unbarred, 

*' Give egress to the forest guard — 

" Resolved to know thy certain lot, 

" Ail thouglits of safety I forgot : 

" Yet rests there in a temple near, 

" Of martial guise, a sage faquir, 



CANTO III. &5 

" To whose protecting arms resigned, 

" Thy virgin charms must be consigned, 

" Fear not — that holy father bears 

" The lore of more than mortal years : 

" Strange tidings tells — his wizard look 

" Of past events is as a book. 

" He whispers Mirza lives — is near — 

" Yea ! in the battle will appear. , 

" But hence, I pray thee, loveliest, flee ! 

"*A moment more — it may not be. 

"He waits thee where the pagods beam 

" Majestic o'er the bordering stream; 

" Convinced that here thy bonds Were bound, 

" He bade me range Camballia round, 

" Thy flight to aid ; the forest side 

" He paces still at even-tide. 

" This mantle o'er thy vestment flung, 

" This sabre from thy girdle swung, 

*' This turban round thy tresses turned, 

" Through night thy sex is undiscerned. 

" Away ! begone ! think not on me, 

" My fairest, loveliest, dearest, flee 1 

'* Nay, not a moment to reply ; 

" A day, an hour, we both must die.^' 

They kissed, they looked, embraced again. 

And kissed, and wept, and kissed in vain ; 

Endearments on departure add 

Rapture to love, they make us mad ; 

For lovers' hearts are warmer never 

Than when they fear they part for ever. 



06 OPOLEYTA. 

One more embrace he snatched, the last — 

The maiden from his arms he cast : 

She went — she stayed — she waved her hand- 

Her footsteps sought the armed band. 

He sees her not — her steps are drowned 

In tambours' crash, and cornets' sound : 

His soul in her uncertain fate 

Is all employed ; the dungeon gate 

Unheeded, open, brightly beamed, 

The cresset from the wicket streamed ; 

The arches sound, the draw-bridge falls, 

Beyond the moat the bugle calls ; 

He mounts the rampart — hark ! they wind 

The very path his hopes designed. 

Down leapt the youth, and joyous bent 

To the great gods benign of firmament. 

XIV. 

Two hours, in anxious, listening mood, 
H^d Appa leant him toward the wood ; 
Distinct a horse's tramp was heard, 
The challenge and the fortress word ; 
Louder it grew : a steed shot past. 
And at the draw-bridge drew at last ; 
The bugle blew, the draw-bridge fell, 
The word re-echoed — all was well. 
The missive to Abdullah sped. 
Proclaimed the female captive fled : 
*' Myself a doubtful form descried 
" Pass secret by the forest side : 



CANTO III. 01 

" When hailed, it fled ; I then pursued 

" It through the mazes of the wood ; 

" My matchlock fired, the flight to wreak, 

" 'Twas answered by a woman's shriek. 

'^ As near I drew, with blade to rive 

" The head of the false fugitive ; 

" Instant there started from the glade 

" A powerful champion to her aid — 

" He bore her off": I marked, unseen, 

" To where they wound transverse the screen ; 

" Within Gunputhee's sacred fane 

" They both repose, and now are lain. 

" Returning to my post, afar, 

" This garment, and this green dustar 

" I found." — Abdullah from his hand 

Snatched both ; and maddening, gave command 

To whelm with chains and fetters o'er 

The slave that held her dungeon door. 

His blade he bound, in murmuring mood, 

And with the soldier sought the wood j 

The temple won, the chief alone 

Before the sanctuary stone. 

With naked steel, now keenly eyed 

Imperfect light on every side. 

And listened : — Hark ! a stilly breath. 

Like the faiut sighs of infant death. 

Conducts him where, in slumbers deep, 

Sagoona lay in calmest sleep. 

Like those pale flowers that close with day, 

Yet cast nor life nor sweets away. 



f>8 OPOLEYTA. 

Boldly he seized her, called " Arise !'* 
The virgin shrieked in wild surprise ; 
Instant an interposing hand 
Seized on Abdullah, stayed his brand : 
The Painim might not see th^ brow 
That shrunk not from his sabre's blow ; 
His eye a muffling cowl concealed — 
" Thy front," the Moslem said, " revealed 
" Appals not me, vain fool : appear, 
" Disclose thy form, I know not fear/' 
The gaunt, mysterious, muffled wight. 
Led the stern Painim to the light ; 
Removed his cowl with gesture calm, 
A murdered brother grasped his arm ; 
And, sternly frowning, held him there 
As steadfast with his awful glare. 
As if a molten statue stood. 
And all but spoke its deeds of blood. 

XV. 

The Moslem from Sagoona broke^ 
As reft by heaven's thunder stroke ; 
And, turning from that hideous scene. 
Cast his broad mantle o'er his mien. 
Too fearful to behold the brow 
He deemed had lain in dust below ; 
The horrid phantom went, and led 
Sagoona to her stony bed. 
Abdullah's limbs could scarcely bear 
Him^ sickening with unearthly fear. 



CANTO III. 69 

Back to Camballia's walls he sped, 
Awed by the living, haunted by the dead. 

The captive Appa, fettered, chained. 
Bore his hard thraldom, nor complained; 
If safe Sagoona, all was well. 
At least in her defence he fell. 
But now to meet Abdullah's eye 
Arraigned was youthful Appajee : 
The Moslem seemed, in sullen hate, 
To feign new tortures for his fate; 
Nor for some moments deigned to speak. 

But meditating mute on wreak. 

Held his fierce eye, unerringly, 

On the bound form of Appajee ; 

And seemed in worse than devilish mood 

On novel cruelties to brood. 

His black moustache he smoothed : forsook 

The very blood his swarthy look ; 

While Appa, heedless of his hate. 

Sighed for Sagoona's doubtful fate. 

" A sigh !" — Abdullah, with a look 

Of spite, denounced this harsh rebuke : 

" I knew thee, dastard, unprepared 

" To act what e'en a babe had dared: 

" Fool that I was to trust to thee 

" A purpose of audacity ! 

" False slave ! that coward heart of thine 

" Hath lost what boldness had made mine. 

*' Nay, I suspect— oh ! if't be true, 

" Well shall thy hireling soul beshrew — 



70 OPOLEYTA. 

" Hath lucre robbed me of my prey ? 
" Did gold thy murderous purpose sway? 
" When ruth, nor piety could plead, 
" To win thee from the guilty deed ?" 

XVI. 

" Thou seest me shackled — chained — disarmed- 

" Thy captive— victim — not alarmed. 

** Rebuke me, scoff me, taunt and spurn, 

" 'Tis thine to suffer in thy turn ; 

" And were I now my state to choose, 

" Thy guilty being I'd refuse ; 

^' And rather, in these chains of mine, 

" Would bear the tortures you design, 

" Than shudder at the works of sin 

" That wring thy spotted breast within. 

'^ I've murdered never : all must die ; 

" I — hail a blest futurity ; 

" And men shall o'er my ashes weep, 

" Lamenting my untimely sleep ; 

" And say, for all I fell by you, 

" Who paid not mercy what was due. 

" My life is thine, I dare to die, 

" Thy utter malice dare defy; 

" For death to me is but as bliss ; 

" When, guilty chief, shalt thou say this ? 

" And, for the fear I am charged withal, 

*' Let shame and scandal on thee fall. 

" What ! stain my steel with woman's blood, 

" The minister of thy base mood ! 



CANTO III. 71 



*' Oh ! when 1 saw the wretched maid, 
*' Bethought me that my battle bkde 
** 'Twere fitter far in her defence 
" To wield, in aid of innocence, 
" Than to thy fell decree to bend, 
" And slay what nature bade defend. 
" I, who her sternest foe should be, 
" Was conquered by her misery : 
" Haply, I thought, in after day, 
" Such virgin might my bed array; 
" That if to her, who bore my love, 
" Some ruffian violence should prove, 
" How to my soul the wish would cling 
'* To crush so cowardly a thing. 
" What blessing to the man were due 
" Who dealt by me, as I by you." 

Grew pale the guilty chief, his brow 
Inconstant waving high and low ; 
Well did he will, with wrathful eye. 
To awe the youth's audacity. 
He strove, but could not, dared not brook 
The stripling's firm and pregnant look ; 
The very weakness of the youth 
Enforced each dire, unvarnished truth. 
I ween that if that warrior chief 
Had sought with falchion his relief. 
Had wished with wonted steel to quell 
What facts the hated boy might tell, 
His arm had failed ; they seemed to be 
An evil power and blessed divinity. 



'72 OPOLEYTA. 

Like demon, conscious of offence, 
Awed by an angel's innocence. 

XVII. 

" All are not dead," the youth resumed, 

" Whom thy relentless temper doomed : 

" Think not, vain man, that all are gone 

" Whom thy stern hatred fixed upon. 

" Assassins' hands will shake with fear, 

" And valour desperate odds can bear ; 

" The foul companion of misdeed 

'* Starts not his fellow to mislead ; 

" And he in blood's achievements trained, 

'' Looks pleased on one more deeply stained." 

Abdullah's anxious mind forgot 
His own high power, the captive's lot ; 
In wild emotion seized his hand. 
That sunk beneath its iron band. 
" Reveal ! reveal !" the Moslem cried, 
" If Mirza live, or how he died !" 
Yet faltering seemed to dread in thought 
The horrid answer he besought. 
" I might, perhaps, in later day, 
*' This clouded mystery betray ; 
" When my untrammelled, fearless soul, 
" Released from dastardly control, 
*' Could tell thee, with a voice too dread, 
" Who smote with ruthless hand the dead. 
" But mark me, chief, thy tongue shall rue 
" That e'er this fell request it drew ; 



CANTO Hi. 73 

" Well may thy sable cheek reveal 

*' How much thou dread'st the secret tale ; 

^' Well may'st thou pause 'twixt doubt and feai:; 

" What ! if the chieftain's self appear ? 

" Dead though thou think'st him, know that he 

" Still breathes, still lives^ aye more, is free ! 

" Rumor declares him now enslaved 

" By one whom formerly he braved ; 

" Yet wizards tell th' oppressor shall 

" Before his face, in combat, fall ; 

" Shall, in his moments of decease, 

" Alien from virtue's holy peace, 

" Hear every hateful crime revealed, 

" Which he, vile despot, hath concealed. 

" I glad to think the foeman proud 

" Shall hear his guilt proclaimed aloud ; 

" That in the moments of his fate, 

" He'll feel compunction, but too late ; 

*' That, owning every guilty deed, 

" By the wronged hero he shall bleed ; 

" And at the shrine of conscience pay 

" The vices of his bloody sway." 

The Moslem was appalled, forsooth, 
At the bold virtue of the youth; 
And fain had tried, on vengeful plea, 
To palliate his dark decree. 
But Appa, frowning on the chief, 
Resumed again in sentence brief: 
*' 'Twas love of one departed long, 
" That urged thee on that virgin's wrong ; 

L 



74 OPOLEYTA. 

" For sake of one returning never, 
" To cast thyself from bliss for ever. 
" What then had'st thought, if I had done 
" The deed thy vengeance urged me on? 
" She whom I saved is mine alone, 
" And if my blood must hers atone, 
" I shall rejoice, it thus should be,, 
" Sagoona saved by Appajee." 

Abdullah started at a name 
That summoned all the pride of fame ; 
Enfettered there, unconsciously, 
Before him stood that Appajee, 
Of whom the world's unerring tongue 
In universal praises sung. 
And more triumphant in his chains, 
That youth above the chieftain reigns; 
Though decked with all that power brings 
To swell the circumstance of kings. 
Than if beneath low safety's shield 
He told the truths he now revealed. 

XVIII. 

Men who are truly great decree 
Great men of their fraternity; 
What though in contest they contend^ 
In peace each hails each peer his friend ; 
Nor marks unmoved, o'er glory thrown 
Mischance unworthy of renown. 
Quick loosed from off the hero's frame 
The bonds too base for such a fame ;. 



CANTO III. ^5 

Abdullah bade him seek his host, 
This obligation fixed at most, 
To meet his arm on battle plain, 
And there his high renown maintain. 

There lurked a something great and good 
Beneath Abdullah's vengeful mood ; 
Dark passions round his heart had grown, 
But oft a beam of light was shown. 
Oh ! had his early youth been swayed 
With care, ambition been allayed, 
That mighty soul had never known 
The darkness now around it thrown. 

Young Appa promised, gave his hand, 
To seek the Moslem brand to brandy 
And with such dignity of port, 
A feeling of such lofty sort, 
Received his freedom from his foe. 
It caused Abdullah's drops to flow. 
The tears of man are wildly spent 
For rapture, woe, or merriment. 
The thought that warms not vulgar minds^ 
In nobler souls asylum finds ; 
Abdullah seldom dropt a tear : 

Long used to blood, he never wept, a 

But ever sullen silence kept ; 
Yet this was virtue's harbinger — 
And he, whose moody heart combined 
Disdain with hate of all mankind, 
Whose kindlier sense had ceased to glow. 
Wept for a valiant foeman's woe. 



7(5 OPOLEYTA. 

Chance-governed man ! The work of years. 

Of ages, oft a moment bears. 

Mankind on mighty moments wait, 

A prompt decision blasts a state ; 

A moment's force, or fear, may roll 

Mishap or bliss from utter pole to pole. 
As when Napoleon, dangerously great. 
Aspired to quell the fathers of the state, 
And subject millions hung upon the deed ; 
Too awed to act, too guilty to recede, 
The grand conception overpowered his breast, 
And the vast thought the first of men oppressed ; 
An instant sunk beneath the pregnant plan. 
His soul recoiled, and proved him — but a man : 
A moment more, the despot was undone, 
The weal of Gaul and liberty were won. 
What ! had the kindling patriots burst to flame, 
They had not left one vestige of his fame. 
Oh ! that one ebb of freedom could reverse 
The fate of nations, and the universe !*^ 
A bolder impulse had the despot hurled, 
And changed the bloody annals of the world. 



END OF CANTO III. 



OPOLEYTA 



CANTO IV. 



THE CAMP AND BATTLE. 

I. 

Nor had the parting fleeces of the east 

Disclosed to eyelids light the welcome day, 
Nor Goomlie shed on Beama's silent breast 

The dark reflection of its palms, that sway 
In undulation o'er its summits grey ; 

When issuing from Camballia, firm and slow, 
Marched the bold bands in disciplined array ; 

And swelling murmurs from that host would flow. 
Like sounds on mountains high from floods that rush below. 

II. 

And ere cerulean beams had cast their light 
From Kafs reflective, fundamental stone, ^' 

Abdullah's band, beneath the shroud of night. 
O'er Beama's deep and darkling waters lone, 



*?8 OPOLEYTA. 

That brightly plash to horses' tramp, are gone ; 

And, winding slowly up their steep defiles, 
At intervals a sullen sound is thrown, 

And stillness dead, and swelling tone at whiles, 
As requiems rolling sad through old cathedral aisles. 

III. 

From the pale mansion of the east was given, 

With darkness striving now, a feeble light ; 
And, in the orient realms of starry heaven, 

Young morning blushed to tread the reign of night. 
Awhile, and every shrub and flowret, dight 

In empyrean tears, refulgent beamed. 
And swords, and spears, and targets clustering bright, 

In flickering brilliance glinted far and gleamed. 
While raised on high Abdullah's lofty ensigns streamed. 

IV. 

Heavens ! on this joyjDUS champain's flowery sward 

They wend, indifferent to fate's award ; 

Where nought but loveliness the eye may scan. 

And all is peaceful but the soul of man. 

Here nature in exuberance supplies 

All earthly charms beneath unclouded skies ; 

Spontaneous flowers breathe sweetness as they throw 

Their gorgeous tints o'er dimpling lymphs below ; 

Wild roses blossom in impervious shade, 

And jasmines cast their perfume through the glade : 

Soft are the lays from all the woodland rung, 

With gold and ruddy bloom enclustering hung ; 



CANTO IV. 79" 

Here high embowermg canes their gUstening length 

Shoot through the fig-tree's ever-spreading strength ; 

The broad-leafed plantain flaps o'er fountain springs, 

And the cool breeze delicious fragrance flings ; 

Still wafting, on its wings of florid wealth, 

The joyous airs of Paradise and health ; 

The golden orange tints each fairy grove, 

And weaves its canopy for boundless love: 

Yea, all appliances are here combined 

To bless this land, the loveliest of mankind. 

Oh ! to return to these delightful scenes, 

What bliss, what ecstacy my bosom weens ! 

For oft in these, reluming memory's eye 

Would raise the home, the days of infancy ; 

And social revellers enjoy, that dream 

When friendship pledged, and England was the theme .^° 

Yea, this the land where high-toned virtues pay 

Atonement due for frail humanity ; 

Where nature shews, hi unrestricted reign, 

Here giant mountain, and wide-cultured plain ; 

Here hearts dilate frenetic at offence, 

Yet swell and sigh with ever kinder sense ; 

Wild souls ! of fierce extreme, deceit above, 

In hatred ruthless, infinite in love. 

Here frowning rocks impend o'er rushing floods. 

Crowned with the majesty of ancient woods, 

Whence thundering torrents sweep the blear ravine, 

And waste their waves where man hath never been. 

Go thou! behold from bleak Caudaila's brow 

The deep and darksome chasm that yawns below ; 



80 OPOLEYTA. 

There eye, of ages old, the monstrous trees 
Sway their wide arms obedient to the breeze ; 
As the shrill kites in steady circles wheel, 
Spreading the pounce to seize the timid teale. 
Till, from their low descent, th' attentive ear 
Find nought but solitary silence there, 
But for awhile ; by fitful breezes cast. 
Borne on the rustling pinions of the blast. 
What thunder-sound hath solemn stillness racked ? 
Yon foaming tide, yon mountain cataract. 
That, from its jangling bed impetuous hurled. 
Like a wild soul, impatient of its world. 
Flies fierce beneath, nor meets an equal shock, 
Till the worn head of yon resplendent rock. 
Whence, dashed in million stars, the deep below, 
As the bright sunbeams on the sparkles glow. 
Owns the lucific power, as sombre grief 
Smiling when fortune sends a fair relief. 
Nor thou alone to this majestic scene 
Confine thy sense, but gaze on distant sheen ; 
Where far in view the waving forest lies. 
All speckled o'er with happy villages. 
And tall pagodas, streamer-crowned and gay. 
Skimmed by the beams of horizontal day; 
Waning in slow degrees, the orb declines. 
Soft rising shade its parting light repines ; 
Now flaming gold the topmost branches loom, 
They fade, they fail, they sleep in evening gloom. 



CANTO IV. 81 

V. 

Abdullah's host have gained the camp designed. 
Where many a soul eternity shall find ; 
Reckless, they bend no craven thought on fate, 
But all impatient for the battle wait; 
Let slothful ease appal its slave with fears, — 
These were a band of bold adventurers. 
Successful fray, to their uncultured thought, 
Repaid their havoc, and was all they sought ; 
And one approving glance from him, their lord, 
Was all the thoughtless soldiery's reward ; 
For he, the captain of the martial band. 
Held every heart beneath his wise command ; 
Desert in arms ne'er pass'd his marking mind ; 
Shrewd chieftain he, and master of mankind. 
Gave valor what was due, nor paid to birth 
The bright pre-eminence of martial worth : 
To his discerning mind the work of fame 
Was more ennobling than an olden name; 
And ancestry but bade a son aspire 
To emulate the glory of his sire. 

VI. 

'Twas now what time the radiant lamp of day 
Shot fierce beneath its never failing ray ; 
When toils are hushed, and kindly slumbers pour 
Their grateful balm to soothe the fervid hour ; 
The browsing drove forsake the sultry plain. 
And seek the shade and deep embowered reign ; 



82 OPOLEYTA. 

The drowsy herdsman tends his flock along, 
And sauntering onward drawls a wonted song. 
Haply some neighbouring water's broad expanse, 
Whose glimmering eddies flash inconstant glance. 
Invites the pastured buffalo to lave 
His broad, dark bosom in the burnish'd wave ; 
Or where the silent and umbrageous wood. 
With darkling shelter girds the glassy flood. 
There rest the weary herd, and round them wheel 
The buzzing swarm, and urge their lulling peal; 
All nature wears a dormant calm serene. 
And universal stillness woos the torpid scene. 

Though through the glow of tents no moving wigiit 
Give apprehension to the hostile sight ; 
All wakeful, all prepared, Abdullah's band 
Await the signal, cimeter in hand. 
Hark ! from the chief's pavilion roars the gun, 
Like lightning flash they burnish in the sun ; 
Quick as the wall of Jericho displayed 
The foes of God to Joshua's holy blade, 
Or seemed as resurrection's trump had sped 
A dusty world from its oblivious bed. 

vn. 

Towards Opoleyta's sun-spread turrets made 
The Arab infantry and cavalcade. 
While fierce artillery, sweeping o'er the ground, 
Awoke the thunder of the mountains round. 
A dusty cloud involves Abdullah's host, 
The fluttering standards faintly seen at most , 



CANTO IV. 8S 

High on the yellow walls of Opoleyt 

The infant group and city matrons meet, 

And through its precincts raise the fearful cry. 

In supplication to their gods on high. 

The gates are gained : from Opoleyta's towers 

An iron war the steady cannon pours ; 

A nd many a wight of desperate renown 

Finds dark eternity and glory's crown. 

The portals splinter at the culverin's flash, 

Shake, yawn, and burst with one tremendous crash. 

As when a <lyke, by ocean surges pressed, 

Bears for a while the thunder on its breast. 

But yields at length; wide yawns the ruined mound. 

The waves rush in, and spread their fury round. 

But there, to face the bold impulsive band. 

The death-devoted, fearless Raujepoots stand ; 

Their iirm-paced valor shocks the rushing flood, 

The labouring wave rolls back through all the moving 

crowd: 
Their curling locks were loose, the death-song sung, 
The peaceful scabbards of the steel were flung ; 
The Gods invoked, the wonted pledge they gave. 
Doomed to the cold, but not dishonoured, grave ; 
For when they see the host resistless move, 
They slay the tender partners of their love ; 
For them life's charms are passed, are nothing worth, 
No blessing weds them to the lothed earth ; 
Incentive drugs the proffered chalice crown. 
And death bfiams grateful in his darkest frown : 



84 OPOLEYTA 

In frantic dance their polished blades they wield, 
And clash the naked terrors on the shield ; 
Then in accordant pace, with grim resolve, 
Their kindled fury on the foe devolve. ^* 

VIII. 

The Moslem saw, his heart's blood chilled to see 

The purpose of the stern fraternity ; 

The loud trump sounds, its thrilling clangor darts 

Dehght ineffable to martial hearts ; 

The contest raged, and many a shriek and yell 

Told infancy, and age, and woman fell. 

One voice above the din imperious rose, 

" More blood ! no quarter ! they are Pagan foes !" 

And where is Appa ? bathed in bloody red. 

All pale and wounded on his weltering bed 

He lies. But hark ! what cries his ear approach ? 

The wounded hero started from his couch, 

Though nearly spent, no longer to remain 

A tame spectator of his children slain, 

A spectacle of death, he seized the sword 

With blood still reeking, and his gods implored ; 

Ferociously on knee both hands he clasped. 

And grimly eyed the cimeter they grasped. 

Looking unutterable thoughts, as, dumb. 

His preguant visage told of wreak to come. 

Fierce in array fought many a serried band, 
And singled foes contested brand to brand. 
When Appa came, the hurricane to share, 
To strike for freedom, and to perish there. 



CANTO IV. 85 

Strength to that brave man's arm, whoe'er he be, 
Who combats for his country's liberty ! 
Oh ! never where that high-toned spirit reigned, 
Oppressive hosts success or glory gained ; 
For chains shall never be that country's part, 
Where every soldier bears a patriot heart : 
E'en though the cause be fatal to the brave. 
What time so meet to hollow virtue's grave. 
As when proud freedom sinks amid her fires. 
And heaven-descended Liberty expires ? 

Old Abba with his host intrepid fought. 
As through the war the Moslem chief he sought, 
Imbued with all that zealous hatred sheds. 
When stern religion sways deluded heads ; 
Exclaiming on his foe, the raging king 
Broke through opposing ranks, fierce combating, 
As ships through ocean cleave before the wind, 
And eddying waves conjoin in wrath behind. 
They met — contested — brief the tale to tell, 
The Moslem vanquished, and the patriarch fell; 
And though a pallid ghastliness of mien 
On his expiring countenance was seen, 
Yet through death's agony his eye unfurled 
Belief in visions of an after world, 
A glance that beamed with hope ; it was the smile 
Of dying martyrs at the burning pile. 
His failing utterance no soul might hear, 
For louder rolled the hurricane of war. 
When rallying wildly, in impetuous tide. 
The kindling patriots reckless fought and died, 



3 OPOLEYTA. 

And prayer forsaking, shrine, and temple domes. 
Function and age struck boldly for their homes. 

The Moslem host, o'erpowered by gathering bands, 
True to the last, opposed with feebler hands ; 
Though toil and numbers still their arms subdued, 
Each soldier perished sternly where he stood; 
But round Abdullah many a flickering blade 
Vindictive clashed, and vengeful strokes essayed : 
And quailed that chief? or staid he to oppose. 
Nor shrunk appalled from hosts of rallying foes? 
As firm as Chimborazzo's awful form, 
When Andes' volumes in tumultuous storm 
Around his head rebellious whirlwind fling. 
Conspiring vain to whelm their mountain king; 
And there had fought, till cleft his turban'd head 
Had lain on earth, companion of the dead ; 
But swelling surges, rolled with miumuring sound. 
Swept friend and foeman from his battle ground; 
Poured from the gates of Opoleyt they sped 
Like mountain flood from its contracted bed 
To champain plains, where, calmed by slow degrees, 
It flows expanded through the vale of peace. 

IX. 

Retreating to their camp,, the Moslem host 
In sullen, silent thoughtfulness were lost ; 
And many a tear from eyes of soldier stole, 
Who sought in vain the comrade of his soul. 
Though mute were all, yet stern expression fell 
From every look, of more than speech might tell; 



CANTO IV. 87 

There some would pause, and inward seem to ask, 

Why thus relinquish' such an easy task ? 

Or, gained that camp whence many a brave man sped, 

Who mingled now for ever with the dead, 

Would gaze on Opoleyta's heights afar 

In anxious dream of more successful war ; 

And resting on their anns, mishap upbraid. 

Till evening wrapped its minarets in shade. 

Night o'er the slaughtered frowned, the first of death 

To friend and foe who paid their latest breath. 

To thousand living wights the last of time. 

For day shall break on slaughter, war, and crime. 

Ere yet the martial brood had laid away 
The weight of war, and mixed in thoughtless joy^ 
A herald comes from widowed Opoleyt, 
The proud relentless Moslem to entreat ; 
To treat of peace, and for the noble slain 
To proffer sepulture and funeral train. 
Vain essay that : to peace his iron heart 
Was stubborn as the rock to pointed dart ; 
And for the slain, whose thread of life was rent, 
This answer back the haughty Moslem sent. 

THE Moslem's reply. 

" No grave so great the chief o'erwhelms 

" As that in battle field, 
" Where to exalt his native realms, 

" He fell with sword and shield. 
" Pomp o'er the dust of kings may rear 

" Its monumental pride, 
" The brave man's lasting fame is where 

" In glorious cause he died." 



88 OPOLEYtA. 

X. 

Throughout the camp the kindled fires were bright. 
And toilsome day was closed in festive night; 
Carousing jovial round the sparkling brands, 
The fellow soldiers told of different lands, 
And each would marvel at another's word. 
And all to speak were bent, and none were heard, 
And each against the turbulence would rail, 
The happy hero of his own vain tale. 
Oh ! well that merry band the camp became, 
Their umber faces shining to the flame ; 
Mid soldier jest they made their rough repast, 
And happy wore that night, perhaps the last ; 
To-morrow's eve might some in battle lie 
Outstretched and cold — what then, why all must die 
And death's dim nothingness is least to hmi 
Who bends not vainly o'er a future dream. 

There sat, amid that scene of revelry, 
One who seemed fitted for a fate more high 
Than the rude merriment of soldiery ; 
Few were his years of life, he was forsooth 
In very semblance but a thoughtful youth ; 
Yet the fixed, pensive sadness of his eye 
Gave him that still and cold solemnity, 
Which rarely reigns in youth's delightful age. 
A soldier, he had conned the lorish page. 
And somewhat of respect and fame had gained. 
When gay of mood his wit once entertained. 
Faults ! he had most, yea all the faults in truth 
That passion genders iu the breast of youth ; 



CANTO IV. 8C 

But nobleness was woven so with them 

That one admired while yet he would condemn ; 

They were the transient frailties that depart 

When careful reason weeds the fruitful heart. 

Thou'st marked fantastic streaks of stormy dye 

Wax dark, and vanish o'er the western sky ; 

E'en fleeting as those clouds of beauteous hue, 

The wild excess which in that bosom grew. 

Accustomed he to scorn mankind's lament. 

To destiny and woe indifferent, 

Once rather smiled than wept at human ills. 

And thought none wretched but the wight that wills. 

Misfortune came ? mischance he reckless bore. 

Regret for evil was but one pang more ; 

From fate ne'er shrinking, with the world he strove, 

Yea, lightly gay, e'en scoffed the pains of love ; 

But now himself bowed, melancholy, wan. 

To that great tyrant o'er the soul of man. 

" I marvel much," exclaimed a soldier rude, 

" What thoughts of care o'er Kureem's mind obtrude : 

" He that was wont to scoff all human cares, 

" At length himself some moody moments bears, 

" I pledge my falchion that our former sage 

" Grows young in wisdom as he walks in age, 

" And finds some bauble woman's heart hath more 

" Of power to torture than he deemed of yore. 

" I trust that love's obstruction may not lead 

" Our once gay youth to slumber with the dead." 

(For many there had thought that Kureem paused 

On bold designs to quell what love had caused.) 

N 



90 OPOLEYTA. 

" But cheer thee, prithee, hence with pensiveness, 
" Thy mistress absent loves thee not the less. 
" Avi'ay with sorrow now the bowl goes round, 
" And cheer thy fellows with some jovial sound !" 

" Not mine, gay brother, to enliven now, 
" A nd yield the pleasure which no more I know : 
" No festive strain the heart of sadness weaves, 
** Its tones as woeful as the theme it grieves ;- 
" Albeit for thee, to cherish thought, I'll strive 
" The fiction of a weary hour to give." 

kuheem's song. 

1. 
Ere death hath expelled every sense from my heart, 

Let me leave these memorials for you ; 
For the love which in life I might never impart 

On eternity's brink I renew. 

2. 
I wreathe thee a garland of wild flowers bloom 

That blossom to evening's breath, 
In prodigal sweetness around the green tomb 

Of love, which ne'er fled but with death. 

3. 
The tears ever shed by affection sincere 

In a crystalline chain I compose ; 
Where brighter and clearer each gem doth appear 

Than the dew-drops that diamond the rose* 



CANTO IV. 91 

4. 
When o'er me the deep umbrage of cedars shall wave, 

Interwoven with cypress and yew, 
And sway then- dark boughs o'er the suicide's grave, 

Where no flowret of sweetness e'er grew ; 

5. 
To thee virgin mourners shall requiems sing. 

And hail thine enthronement on high ; 
But o'er my grave in gloom shall the hoarse raven's wing 

Flap at eve to the cold Zephyr's sigh. 

6. 
May the various hues of the chaplet I weave 

Resemble thy joys when I'm dead ; 
And my numberless tears, by the chain that I leave. 
Be recalled when my spirit is fled. 
End of Song. 

Modest he bent ; his wan, dejected eye 

Spoke bashfully for such a melody. 

" We thank thee, Kureem," cried that merry group, 

" But cheer thee, friend, ne'er let thy courage droop." 

" And I," cried one, " will tune my rugged voice ; 

" Come, joy be with us while we may rejoice." 

Mir Hussein now his notes to pleasure paid. 

As brave a he as e'er fleshed sabre blade ; 

A reckless chief, prepared and bent to all. 

To lead his horsemen, or to mount the wall ; 



2 OPOLEYTA. 

Round midnight flame the cheering bowl to quaff, 
Tell his broad tale, and rouse the vulgar laugh. 
A recreant Moslem ! bred in war's turmoil, 
With just as much of faith as suited toil : 
Nought heeded he, he drained the purple wine, 
Yet turned five times a day to Mecca's shrine ; 
Neglected all that social revel cramps, 
And loved the jovial turbulence of camps : 
He was no coy solicitor of bliss, 
Who fed desire on one conceded kiss ; 
Loved not that bashful diffidence of eyes 
That checks the impulse, yet exalts the prize. 
Oh! he affected woman, warm and wild. 
But not the timid and unripened child : 
He loved to clasp a woman in his arms, 
And rove in rapture o'er expanded charms ; 
Drank deep, fought fierce, did all on nature's plan. 
No puny youngling, but a bearded man ; 
Aside his falchion and caloon he flung, 
And roughly thus his careless verses sung. 

MIR HESSEIN's song. 

1. 

Let soldiers unite 

In their cups of delight 
Ere the havoc of warfare arise ; 

And every brave soul 

Drink deep of the bowl 
Ere the morrow have shadowed his eyes. 



CANTO IV. 93 

2. 

The hardships of fate 

Let us reckless await, 
Since destiny ne'er is severe ; 

To the heart of the brave 

Who can look on the grave, 
Nor shrink from the thoughts of the bier. 

3. 

If victory bless, 

Why our girls shall caress, 
And repay us the toils of affray ; 

And trumpets that sound, 

O'er the dead on the ground. 
Shall bear them to heaven away. 

4. 

When culverins rattle 

The thunder of battle, 
What then if in glory we die ; 

From earth we remove 

To the blisses above. 
And mix with the Houris on high. 

5. 

The chieftain's brave health, 

His long life and his wealth ! 
And success in the desperate hour ! 

May Abdullah still prove. 

In battle and love, 
Like the prophet in prowess and power ^^. 



94 OPOLEYTA. 

The merriment was hushed ; throughout the field, 
The hardy chiefs were pillowed on the shield, 
And there from weary life more peace they win. 
Than kings can boast in all their festive sin ; 
So sweet the sleep, that waits on toilsome day, 
And chases labor's pain and care away. 
Alone Abdullah that calm rest refused ; 
O'er the white embers of the brands he mused, 
And lowering, shoM^ed, with head reclined on hilt, 
The dark and thought-marked lineaments of guilt. 
" What weary years," the hoary chieftain said, 
'* Have rolled o'er Syed's unavenged bed ! 
" Yet still to me his treasured semblance brings 
" A father's weakness and the hate of kings. 
*' Ullah be praised ! the sanguine deed's returned, 
" My sword took vengeance, and my foot hath spurned. 
" The infidel hath fallen beneath my blow, 
" And fled to darkness and despair below. 
*' I thought not thus, when in his cradled hours, 
" I fondly strewed his cherub form with flowers, 
" And cherished visions of his future fame, 
" And marked his bosom with his father's name, 
** When my fond hand the crescent moon impressed 
" In deathless colours on his infant breast — 
" I thought not Hope's last, solitary wreath 
'* To crown my age, was vengeance for his deatli — 
" Thanks to decay, life's toil will soon be o'er, 
" And I shall sleep in dust for evermore ; 
" My birth I damn not — 'tis an useless sin 
" To curse the fate which forced us to have been, 



CANTO IV. 95 

" But they, whose tears have wept this being's pain, 
" Will tremble, crouch and shrink to be again." 

XI. 

The stars more faintly twinkled now 
Above the mountain's misty brow, 
And light and darkness doubtful strove 
O'er every cool unruffled grove. 
Uncertain as the trembling line. 
Where rose and lily blooms combine, 
And imperceptive blend their streak 
On beauty's fair and blushing cheek ; 
When falchions' clash and battle din 
In war's impulsive hurricane. 
With trumpet blast and chargers' tramp 
Shot sudden through the sleeping camp, 
And tambours loud and cornet's sound 
Called warriors to their battle ground; 

As rising from his ocean bed. 
The orb of day lucific shone 
On many a brave and noble one, 
Who, ere his evening beam were gone, 

Should fleet the regions of the dead. 
Lo! when the armed hosts appear, 
The ensigns from their bright ranks flare. 
Or reared on high the crescents glare 

From bannerols of green. 
Far streaming o'er the serried line 
Of champing horse and warlike shine, 

That move to martial harmony, 



96 OPOLEYTA. 

As hymning to the lord of war. 
Their canticles are borne afar, 

With prayer for death or victory. 
And oft the swelling breeze would tell 

To Opoleyta's murmuring force. 

In mighty acclamation hoarse, 
Some haughty imprecation fell. 

Till near and nearer closing now. 
Each army told the hostile tread 
That firmly in accordance sped 

To fray of enemy and foe ; 
Viewing with dumb attention's eye 

The storm that gathering frowned. 
As mariners in silence mark 
The tempest sweeping toward the bark. 
Ere yet the waves are tossed on high, 

Or heaven hath rolled its thunder sound. 

XII. 

The foes are met, tiie hour is come. 
The doubtful fray not yet begun : 

And few shall bear the annals home 
Of how the day was lost or vvon. 

Each army sends its horrent shout 
To war's empurpled gory shrine : 
Ere blood hath stained a sabre shine 

Or foes have mixed in deadly rout, 
The trumpet sounds, and speeding wind 
Adown the sloping mountain's side, 
The Jarejah and Raujepoot pride. 



CANTO IV. 97 



The lordly chivalry of Ind. 

And well the Moslem host could see, 
Inspuing Opoleyta's band, 

In high and martial homily. 
The youthful leader of her land ; 
One too there was of older years 
Exhorting all his brave compeei's. 
On white and gallant charger backed, 
In guise of yorish cataphract ; 

He leads them to the darkened pale 
AVhere desperate foes contend, 

And to that cloud-encumbered vale 
Succeeding hosts descend — 

On column column, rank on rank, 
They glittered on the mountain brow, 

Ere fierce descending thence, they sank 
In clouds of rolling smoke below ; 

It seemed to those on high. 
As if the fiends of hell were hurled 
From day into a nether world, 
All destined there to die. — 
It were a scaring spectacle 
To see the many there that fell 

Amid the fight of foes. 
As through the mingled dust and smoke 
The sudden flash of cannon broke, 

And tattered banners rose, 
And doubtful voices rent the sky 
With glorious shouts of victory — 
Aloof Abdullah marked the fight, 
Nor shrunk but gloried at the sight, 



93 OPOLEYTA. 

And fiercely gave commands ; 
For numbers of his bravest there 
Fought the wild battle of despair, 

Surrounded by outnumbering bands. 
But now Camballia's phalanx yields 
To cleaving swords and flying spears ; 

Yet slow receding firmly rears 
A canopy of serried shields. 
The chieftain's kindling eye could tell, 
That Opoleyta's standard rose 

Triumphant o'er her yielding foes, 

Each bravely fighting till he fell. 
That ensign wont to wave on high 
Amid the hymns of victory ! 
Shall Moslem chieftain see it droop ? 
And sullied by a Pagan troop ! 
The thought his proud heart goads. 

He staid not — to the war he sped — 
An instant shout of joy began, 

As onward moving at their head, 
Like Carticeya in the van 
Of his embattled gods, 
He led them to the deaf'ning scene, 
With all a chieftain's taunted spleen. 
Far louder now the din is given ; 
And darker still it's wreaths to heaven 

The clouded war upsends ; 
And mingling indistinctly rise 
Victorious shout and raurtherous cries 

That pain with triumph blends. 



CANTO IV. 99 



XIII. 

Ever throughout that troubled fray 
Dark Mahadev near Abdullah pass'd, 

Then swiftly held his course away, 
But ever on the chieftain cast 

A cruel^ keen, mysterious eye, 
As if his evil spirit sought 
A moment for some deed in thought 

Of horrible malignity. 
But wheresoe'er stern Mahadev wends, 
Still his suspicious course attends 

That strange appointed wight, 
And more than once his guardian hand 
Had turned the edge of Appa's brand, 

When fierce, in single fight, 
Oppressive tempest quick it shed 
Around the hoary Moslem's head — 
Sonorously the welkin rang 
To culverins and jarring clang 

Of deadly implements ; 
For Arab matchlock sounded there, 
Malnatta sword, and Raujepoot spear, 

In warlike dissonance; 
And many an olden lordless shield 
Was trampled on that bloody field. 
The Moslem host pursuing cry 
In triumph o'er the enemy. 



100 OPOLEYTA. 

Throughout that deep tumultuous vale, 
Swept by the hoarse contentious gale, 
In thunders rushing, wild and deep, 
As whirlwinds tear Bomullan's ^^ steep 
Destructive, and in volumes sweep 

Its high fantastic form : 
It seemed the fabled god of wind 
Had to their violence consigned 
The rebel blasts, and all combined 

Let rage their tempest storm. 
Rolled undulating through the smoke, 
The eye might tell where squadrons broke. 
As on their snowy turbans fell 
The sun, and lit each bickering steel. 
From fierce collision broken, thrown 
Like waves from ocean-stranded stone ; 
When, gleaming through the murky night, 
They give their sparkling crests to light, 
And hurled in yesty conflict bright 

Explode in clamor hoarse : 
Casting their mountain forms afar. 
Undaunted to tempestuous jar 

Of controverted force. 
The war is hushed that roared aloud. 
The breeze hath broke the cumbrous cloud, 
And through its brown and tattered shroud 

Lo, Opoleyta's woe ! 
Abdullah's high uplifted hand 
Sustains a blood-empurpled brand, 
And Appa gasps below. 



CANTO IV. 101 



Beside the fallen chieftain kneels 

A youth in wild despair ; 
His upcast eye to heaven appeals, 

Imploring God to spare. 
He clasps him in his arms, he tears 

The angreka from off his breast ; 
When the proud crescent moon appears, 

And stern Abdullah's name expressed. 
Revenge is crowned, the deed is done, 
The wretched sire hath slain the son i 

XIV. 

Mahadev was nigh, his spiteful grin 
Burst hateful on the horrid deed ; 

Exulting at his purposed sin 
•That destined Syed thus to bleed. 

" He zms thy son, and I am he 
" Who led him at a god's command 

*' To meet the stroke of destiny, 
" And perish by a father's hand. 

" I too am he who urged thy will 
" To triumph over nature's strife, 

" And bend thy better heart to kill, 
" Who found in thee his best of life. 

" Yea, Mirza guiltless fell by thee, 
*' By me belied ; my deeds are owned ; 

" I've honored my divinity, 
^' My temple's shame is now atoned." 

This said — his anlace thrice he waved 
Above his turban-circled head. 



102 OPOLEYTA. 

In posture bold, as thougli he braved 
All vengeance for the hapless dead ; 
Rejoicing as a fiend to see 
The triumph of impiety. 
The youth who sorrowed o'er the slain 
In seeming lifelessness was lain, 
But now sprung startling from the earth, 
As risen to a second birth ; 
Then gazing with a wilder'd mien, 
In doubt of that the false Hindu 
Had uttered, writhed a frantic smile, 
Approaching the stained chief the while ; 

His dagger from the sheath he drew, 
And v\ ith a more than human spleen 
Plunged to the very hilt his blade, 
When lo ! on earth fell Mahadev laid. 
The demon gasped — distractedly 
The youth clasped fallen Appajee, 

One last embrace bewildered caught; 
His girdle and his turban took,^'* 
And with a wild despairing look 

On mettled steed the battle sought. 
Then struggling with his bubbling wound, 
Malicious Mahadev tore the ground ; 
His look as vengefully malign 
As that of dying Catiline ; 
But not in penitential death 
He gave the whids his latest breath : 
His steel he grasped, and fiercely rose 
Amid the circle of his foes ; 



CANTO IV. 103 

And not, though numbers closed him round, 
Gave he, but desperate held his ground ; 
With rapid sword, and beaten shield, 
Sustained the stoutest of the field ; 
Though ebbing from his dagger wound, 
His blood in torrents stained the ground. 
He yielded not ; but, sunk on knee. 
Dealt his fierce strokes vindictively. 
Till turban lost, and corselet cleft. 
Of cimeter and shield bereft ; 
With many a gash on trunk and limb. 
Livid his mien, and vision grim. 
He writhing fell ; and, in his fall. 
With grinning hatred cursed them all. 

XV. 

The chief, whose unrevealed mien 
Through all that troubled battle scene 
Had worked amazement, backward threw 
His verdant robe, and gave to view 
The very phantom form that staid 
Abdullah in the midnight glade ; 
The self-same haughty, withering mien. 
That shook fell Mahadev at the shrine; 
'Tw^as Mirza's self, though hope and grief 
Had marked his visage with their strife. 
" Demoniac slave !" the chieftain said, 
His eye bent on the vicious dead, 
" These are thy deeds. Impiety 
" Achieved beneath a holy plea ; 



104 OPOLEYTA. 

" The foulest sin, the name sublime 
" Assumed by guilt to sanction crime !"" 
Before the Moslem chief aghast, 
All, all like dreaming visions passed ; 

Though Opoleyta's broken spear. 
Her shivered flag, and trampled shield. 

To sad beholders' eyes declare 
The woe of her disastrous field. 
Yet not the haughty Moslem chief 

The fruits of that victorious day 
Hath heaven's doom allowed to reap ; 

From farther lands a bright array 
Now glimmer on the mountain steep ; 
They come to hurl the Painim's crown. 
And shake the proud oppressor's throne. 

Time was, when that stout heart had stood 
Against the myriads of the world; 
But truth had now her tale unfurled. 

And penitence and grief subdued. 
In silent thought the Moslem paused 
On that his vengeful mood had caused ; 
With crowding recollections eyed 
The bravest of Camballia's pride ; 
And with a stifled sigh surveyed 
His old victorious hosts arrayed. 
Destruction ! yea, his sword had brought 
Dismay, and desolation wrought. 
Where'er his towering hopes inspired 
Design, or glory's visions fired ; 
Nor function spared he, age, nor laud^ 
But swept, with desolating hand, 



CANTO IV. 105 

E'en nature's pleading loveliness, 

With unabating pride's excess ; 

Mark where he might, to grace his crown, 

More blood-stained trophies of renown. , 

Yet guilt's encroaching wreck withstood 

One feeling — 'twas his people's good : 

The gem witliin the loathsome form, 

The star that glimmered through the storm. 

His dark revealing eye was fraught 

With firm resolve, and awful thought ; 

He reared his ordering hand ; 
Ere uttering his high decree. 
He bade his subject hosts be free. 
And with a lordly dignity 

Renounced his old command ; 
Sublime as when Flaminius decreed 

To the attendant sons of fallen Greece, 
Of rising Rome th' inestimable meed. 

The mighty boon of liberty and peace. 

XVI. 

He leaves a nation born to fame, 
Which his achieving proM'ess won. 
In equal toils with every one 

Who fought beneath his mighty name ; 
The laurelled wreath that forehead wears, 
Though dashed with blood and nations' tears, 
To restless soldiery appears 

A diadem more bright. 
Than fear and weakness ever bound 



106 OPOLEYTA. 

The brow of subtle priest around, 
In superstition's night : 

They knew him guilty, but they knew 
Ambition's deeds are stained with blood, 
'Twas not they thought him purely good. 



But that in potency he 



srew 



With less of wickedness and sin 

Than they with lust of power mad 
Have shewn of yore ; he had but been 

The very boldest of the bad. 
Ere Appa*s lips were closed for aye, 
He bade to search throughout the fray, 
To see if there Sagoona fought; 
When sadly from its pale is brought 
A lifeless, warm, and mangled wight, 
Who perished in the deadly fight. 
Around the waist an argent zone, 
A turban o'er its temples thrown ; 
Those weeds of Appajee appear, 
And speak the story of despair ; 
For, pierced with many a mortal wound, 
Yet grasping in its tender hand 
The dinted, bloody, shattered brand, 
Sagoona's lifeless form was found : 

She speaks not, moves not, life is flown, 
Yet blood-drops from her bosom drip, 

And her soft cheek is paler grown, 
And freshness flies her vermil lip ; 
That lip, where nature's hand had given 
Earth's brightest hue, the breath of heaven. 



CANTO IV. 107 

On Appa's dead and wounded breast 
Hei- dark dishevelled head they rest ; 
For he is gone, and there they lie 
United in eternity. 
Abdullah could not bear the scene : 

He mounted on his dun war horse, 
Commanding by his frowning mien, 

That none should heed his secret course. 
He shunned the sight, his fiery steed 
Careering at his utmost speed. 
He parts, he leaves his own formed men, 

Remote to roam on alien shores. 
But they shall wish that chief again, 

And chance may yield what hope implores. 

XVII. 

The sun was waning, large and red. 
Behind high Goomlie's burnish'd head, 
And o'er the mountain ridges shed 

A stream of dazzling gold ; 
A dusty cloud arose on high. 
When wending fleet and distantly 

A speeding form was told : 
It seemed awhile to tarry there. 
And cast its suppliant arms in air. 
As if some pilgrim wandering far 
Reluctant paused on mountain bar. 
Indulging sad one lingering gaze 
On scenes of early, happy days. 
High o'er the wide, unruffled lakes 
His flight the hoarse flamingo takes : 



108 OPOLEYTA. 

To mango bowers the peacock hies, 
And gathers from the western skies 
Effulgence on his thousand dyes. 
Delightful sight it is to see 

That valley in its evening hue ; 
Such pure, such calm serenity, 
The Moslem's fabled heaven on high 

Is there on earth expanded true. 
Pomegranate, lime, and tamarind. 
Their foliage with the myrtle blend, 
And all their breathing blossoms vie 
In exquisite diversity : 
It seems as nature's bounteous hand 
Had realized a fairy land ; 
So rich its air, so cool each rill. 
The scene so lovely, heavenly still. 
Go, Christian, list the holy fire 
That breaks throughout the Pagan choir ! 
I've heard, when the reposing breeze 
Shook not one sapling of the trees, 
Devotion's canticles arise 
So softly to the twinkling skies. 
That scarce my Christian soul denied 
To enter in their holy pride. 
So zealous rose their song, so saintly died; 

Sagoona gone, Abdullah fled. 
No legend tells his destiny. 

And Appa slumbers with the dead, 
Laid low in Moslem cemetery. 



CANTO IV. 109 



The sculpture on his humble tomb 
Recounts fell Mahadev's bigot crime, 
And tells the sorry tale to time, 

A father dealt young Syed's doom. 

His lonely ashes now remain 

Beside the sacred Moslem fane; 

For there, by mantling palm-trees hid, 

Rears modestly the white musghid; 
Its holy spire may oft be seen, 

Clothed in such melancholy dyes, 
'Tis easy from the sight to ween 

A blessed spirit near it lies : 

And often hath my boyhood thought, 

Some kindly angel there had shed 
Solemnity with beauty fraught. 
And such a hallowed sadness wrought 

In all who to its precincts sped. 
As if to bid unholy feet 
Ne'er trespass on the silence sweet 

That reigns around the peaceful dead. 

The village children idly stray, 

To cull around its cupola 

Wild sweets to weave a flower crown ; 

And many a mystic tale is known. 

To those who near the temple dwell, 

Of midnight knolling passing bell. 

And melody of sightless sprite 

Heard at the silent hour of night ; 

Such legends as delight our youth 

Ere fancy yields to sober truth. 



110 OPOLEYTA. 

But now fair Opoleyt is red, 
And scattered with the many dead. 
Ambition's crime is writ in blood 
Where'er her sanguine flag hath stood^ 
And many a hero, great and good, 

Hath stained her gory shrine ; 
But whose this cold and slaughtered heap. 
These fellow-men in death so deep, 
Where breathless foes by foemen sleep r 

Religion, these are thine ! 



NOTES. 



#.% 



NOTES 



CANTO r. 



And minstrel pipe and chime of temple bell. 

Page 2, line 5. 
It is usual in India after sunset to visit the pagodas, which 
are perfumed with incense generally kindled at that de- 
lightful hour. The fanatic devotion of the Hindis is at- 
tended by an incessant and sonorous chime, which to christian 
ears has a far more infernal than celestial character. 

The lazem Jceeps its owi laborious calendar. 

Page 2, line 24. 
The taaleem khaneh is usually under ground, and of suf- 
ficient loftiness to allow the muqdoor to pass between the 
head of the Pheilwan and the cieling. The Pheilwans are 
famous Indian gymnics, who derive their principal nutrition 
from milk, and refrain in particular from feminine enjoyment. 
Before they begin their exercises they besmear their bodies 
with red powder. The muqdoors are wooden instruments 
of conical form, having handles at the smaller end; their 
weight of course adapted to the capability of the bearer. 
The utility of this exercise is that it expands the chest and 
invigorates the arms. The dun is performed on all fours : 



114 NOTES. 

the curious reader may possibly have met a more accurate 
description of its performance than I can allow myself to 
give. The lazem is composed of a stiff piece of wood and a 
strong brazen chain united as a bow and bowstring. The 
chain is hung with many rings, which make a jingling noise. 
The method of this exercise is to widen the chain and stick 
first on one side, then on the other, and afterwards, by 
extending them sufficiently to admit the head and neck 
between them. 

Soliciting the sapient godhead's light. 

Page 6, line 14. 
Gunputhee, Guneis, or Gunesa, the God of Wisdom. 

^ sharp serseja tvas his bed. 

Page 11, line 12. 
Serseja, a bed of spikes. You may see this instrument of 
torture faithfully depicted in the 5th vol. of the Asiatic Re- 
searches, at the ai'ticle of Purrum, Soatuntree, Purkasanund, 
Bremchary, by Mr. Jonathan Duncan. The pains of Jelseja 
are intense ; it diffuses a horrible frigidity around the fore- 
head and temples, which it is wonderful that human nature 
can sustain. The former species of mortification is not to" 
be found in the eighteen Tupisyas recorded by the Shaster ; 
but as two renowned devotees, Agniburna in the first, and Ra- 
vona in the second, Yug, employed it, many Hindu fanatics 
have chosen to follow their example in the Cale Yug. Read 
(it will amuse you) the article to which I have referred. 

The melody of Persic lays. 

Page 12, line 13. 
The Hindu minstrels are frequently versed in the popular 



NOTES. 115 

melodies of Persia, which they adapt to the music of the 
vene. 

Gifted uoithjaithful Syriac brand. 

Page 20, line 1. 
The swords of Damascus are esteemed in the East as well 
as in European countries. 

Was still that ivhole Durbar about. 

Page 20, line 8. 
Durbar implies the prince and courtiers in council. 

A low sala'am to Abba made. 

Page 21, line 13. 
A term vulgarly given to the salutation of touching the 
turban with the hands. " Salaam,'' according to Richard- 
son, is a mysterious word formed by the abbreviation of an 
Arabic phrase, implying, '* the blessing and peace of God 
be with him." 

And all the sacred offerings bore. 

Page 22, line 24. 
It is usual to offer rice, sugar, fruit, flowers, ghee, and 
even money at the shrine of oriental divinities ; these offer- 
ings are placed on a stone which lies in front of the deity. 
I myself had once the honour of presenting a nuzzer, or 
piece of silver, to the living god at Chichore, who, to the 
best of my remembrance, was a very ugly and avaricious old 



With poison drugged the tvaters siueet. 

Page 23, line 26. 
The practice of nauseating the waters is very commonly 



116 NOTES. 

adopted by eastern soldiers to retard the progress of an 
offensive army. 

The vicinage a desert loomed. 

Page 23, line 30. 
In India the certain consequence of warfare is the deso- 
lation of those provinces which are likely to become the 
scene of action. Most readers are acquainted with the de- 
structive character of the wars which were waged by Juswunt 
Rao. The Dekhan is but just recovering from the wilder- 
ness and depopulation occasioned by that bloody chief; and 
melancholy spectacles of human sculls are still seen in the 
Mahratta districts, around the ruins of desolate towns and 
villages. The impressive picture given by Mr. Burke of 
Hyder All's havoc in the Carnatic, forms but too faithful a 
parallel to the generality of oriental wars. 



NOTES 



CANTO II. 



Fierce as their venomed snake expands its hood. 
Page 29, line 10, 
Cobra de Capello. Immediately that the anger of this 
snake is roused it erects one half of its body from the earth, 
expands its hood, and darts at the object it designs to bite. 
It is usually between four and five feet in length. Its eye 
has a peculiar brilliance, and I once saw its power of fasci- 
nation on a bird: I was standing with a gentleman who 
heard a shrill noise, and saw a bird droppmg helplessly from 
branch to branch ; he told me he thought it was fascinated ; 
on approaching the tree we saw the bright eye of the snake, 
which we disturbed ; it glided back, and instantly the bird 
flew away. 

Now loosed her ebon locks, and softly 'uiept. 

Page 33, line 14. 
The Indians on momentous and aflSicting occurrences, 
such as visitations of the devil, self-devotion, or sorrowing 
for their dead, dishevel their long tresses, which gives them, 
in this disordered state, an air of most peculiar beauty. 



118 NOTES. 

What! if thou clearest Cathayan floods afar. 

Page 34, line 1 1 . 
The Japan isles are thus spoken of by the Abbe Raynal : 
" Les grandes isles qui composent cet empire, plagees sous 
un ciel orageux, environnees de tempetes, agitees par des 
volcans, sujettes a ces grands accidents de la nature qui im- 
priment la terreur, etoient remplies," &c. &c. Tom. i. p. 
143, 12°. edit. Amsterdam, 1773. 

Where rugged manacles displace the charm. 

Page 36, last line. 
The Hindus have a thorough conviction of the efficacy of 
charms or amulets to avert the operation of evil spirits. 

Folds pure and tvhite as Himolaya's snows. 

Page 37, line 4. 
Himolaya, or the mansion of snow, is the name given by 
the Hindiis to that vast chain of mountains which limits 
India to the north, and embraces it with its eastern and 
western arms, both extending to the ocean : the former of 
those arms is called Chaiidrashec'hara, or the moon's rock ; 
the second, which reaches as far west as the mouth of the 
Indus, was named by the ancients Monies Parvati. These 
hills are held sacred by the Indians, who believe them to be 
the terrestrial haunt of the god Iswaru. The mountain 
Himolaya being personified, is represented as a powerful 
monarch whose Avife was Mena; their daughter is named 
Parvati, or mountain-horn, and Durga, or dificidt of access; 
but the Hindils believe her to have been married to Siva in 
a pre-existent state, when she bore the name of Sati. The 
daughter of Himolaya had two sons, Gunesa, the lord of 
spirits, adored as the wisest of deities, and always invoked at 



NOTES. 



119 



the beginning of every literary work ; and Gumara, Scanda, 
or Carticeya, commander of the celestial armies. 

Argument to the Hymns to Pracriti. 

Sweet as the breeze from Irem's botuer that hlo'ws. 
Page 37, line 16. 
Irem : — Celebrated, butfabulous gardens, said to have been 
anciently made in Arabia Felix, by a king named Shedad 
ben Ad, or Irem ben Omad. Frequent mention is made of 
these gardens by the Eastern poets, who describe them as a 
perfect model of that voluptuous paradise which the Ma- 
hommedans are promised by their prophet. Richardson, 
art. Irem. p. 81. vol, l, fol, Oxford, 1777' 

And called on Vishnu in that hour — her last. 

Page 38, line lQ. 
Vishnu. The preserver ; the god of infinite goodness. 

Eternal state ofguiWsJuturity. 

Page 39, line 8. 
An intelligent and liberal Arab, to whom I was indebted 
for instruction when in India, once told me that he thought 
the hell of futurity would either be the retention of con- 
science after death, or a perpetual existence in sandy deserts 
destitute of streams and groves : his opinion of heaven was 
strongly in favour of paradise, as it is described by Mahom- 
medans, and guessing my predilections (possibly from jocose 
conversation), he advised me to renounce my attachment to 
wine, for the chance of a hundred Houris. 



120 NOTES. 

Far o*er the ivide expanse ofivaterT/ mees. 

Page 40, line 3. 
Oh ! I coulde waile mie kynge-coppe-decked mees 
Mie spreadynge flockes of shepe of lillie white. 

Chatierton, Eel. 1. Roberte and Raufe. 

" Ullah Kureem /" The golden dreams of youth. 
Page 42, line 1. 
" Ullah Kureem !" Merciful God! 

" Ber to sulamut .'" if I tvell divine. 

Page 43, line 22. 
" Ber to sulamut !" Salvation be on you ! or, Peace be 
to you ! 

Resolve me, Syed — "whither art thou bent ! 

Page 43, line 24. 
Syed : The title of the chiefs of the family of Mahommed, 
descended from Ali and his daughter Fatima, by whom alone 
the green turban should be worn ; but the Mahommedans 
of Hindustan have indiscriminately usurped this distinction, 
with as much propriety indeed as our tinkers and cobblers 
bedeck themselves in the military costume of the day. 

Proclaim' d that Carmasacshi's anxious steeds. 

Page 47, line 28. 
Carmasacshi is a name of Surya, the Phoebus of European 
Pagans. 



NOTES 



CANTO III. 



Sheikh Hyder to Abdullah camct 
With naked Jeety and low salaam. 

Page 53, line 1. 
It is a polite institution in the East that no tent, temple, 
or house shall be entered but with naked feet: it is by no 
means of recent original. An allusion to this observance may- 
be found in Joshua, chap. v. verse 15. " And the captain 
of the Lord's host said unto Joshua, loose thy shoe from off 
thy foot, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ; and 
Joshua did so." I regret to add that the spirit of compliance 
manifested by the son of Nun, does not appertain to the 
civilized character of modern Christians in the East. 

To sing the charms of Mosellay. 

Page 55, line 12. 
The bower of Mosellay is celebrated in the poetry of 
Hafiz, the Anacreon of Persia, 

R 



122 NOTES. 

I've rov'd the garden of Cashmir. 

Page 57, line 9. 
C'est une vallee delicieuse, vers I'extremite septentrionale 
de I'Indostan, formee par les montagnes d' Attok et par celles 
du Caucase, habitee par les hommes de I'lnde les plus indus- 
trieux et les plus polis, par les femmes les plus belles et les 
plus piquantes. — Abbe Raynal. 

The dangerous Erythraean deep. 

Page 57, line 16. 
" In modern times the Red Sea is a name appropriated to 
the Arabian Gulf, but the ancients denominated the ocean 
which stretches from that gulf to India, the Erythraean Sea, 
from King Erythras, of whom nothing more is known than 
the name, which in the Greek language signifies * red.'' 
From this casual meaning of the word it came to be believed 
that it was of a different colour from other seas, and conse- 
quently of a more dangerous navigation." — Dr. Robertson's 
Note and Illustration 7th Ancient India. Not to assume the 
exaggerating privilege of a traveller, I beg leave to add that 
this ocean might have taken the name of " red^'' from the 
colour which its waves very frequently assume. This asser- 
tion will be attested by many who have sailed from the coast 
of Malabai", or Guzerat, to the Gulf of Cutch. The Abbe 
Raynal remarks, " La mer rouge qui doit son nom aux co- 
raux, aux madrepores, aux plantes marines qui tapissent 
presque partout son fond, et qui lui donnent en apparence 
cette eouleur," &c. Tom. i. p. 82. 

Nor turn the holy tomes of Zend. 

Page 58, line 2. 
The tomes of Zend: the five books ascribed to the 
patriarch Abraham. 



NOTES. 123 

They saiVd sublime to Mutra's plain. 

Page 61, line 21. 
Krishen and the nine Gopia, the Apollo and Muses of the 
Greeks, are feigned to reside in the plains of Mutra, where 
Rutty, or Love, is of their company. 

Thejate of nations, and the universe. 

Page 'jQy line 20. 
Refer to the Precis de la Revolution Frangaise, on the 
panic of Napoleon Buonaparte in the Council of Five 
Hundred. 



NOTES 



CANTO IV. 



From Kqfs reflective, Jiindamental stone. 

Page 77, line 1]. 
Kaf, a fabulous mountain, anciently imagined by the 
Asiatics to surround the world, and to bound the horizon on 
all sides. In the Alkoran (for even Mahomraed was carried 
along by this popular belief,) Kaf is said to rest upon a stone, 
formed, according to some learned doctors, of one entire 
emerald, the reflection from which, they say, gives the azure 
appearance to the sky ; whilst its movements produce earth- 
quakes, volcanoes, and all the extraordinary phaenomena of 
nature. Richardson, p. 1357, article Kaf. 

Whenjriendship pledged, and England iinas the theme. 
Page yQ, line 36. 
It is a common diversion in India to send tents and provi- 
sions to the distance of fifteen or twenty miles from a can- 
tonment to devote a few days to the sports of the field. I 
have often participated in the pleasure of such excursions. 



NOTES. 125 

and remember well that conversation generally turned on 
the country, which we all had left and longed to revisit. In 
my own country I feel equally delighted to think on another, 
which I love less than England, only because it is not the 
land of my nativity. Perhaps my recollections of happy 
hours in India has led me to trespass on the patience of my 
readers, by alluding to festivities in that delightful country. 
My Indian acquaintances will treat such an error with in- 
dulgence, and be pleased to find that my departure from the 
scene of their present, and my own former habitation, has in 
no wise diminished my sincere attachment to the many ex- 
cellent and intelligent friends I left behind me. It is, no 
doubt, an easy matter for tourists and travellers to scatter 
indiscriminate abuse throughout a settlement denied by 
distance the power of timely vindication ; and disappointed 
vanity and unaccredited pretensions will not be very scru- 
pulous iji condemning the circles which were insensible to 
their occult perfections. I would by no means imply that my 
discernment is preferable to that of such invidious reporters, 
but do not hesitate to say that my veracity is entitled to 
much more respect. The fetes champetres, to which I have 
entrusted my uncoiTupted morals in the East, were neither 
drunken associations ; nor were the ladies, who occasionally 
honored our rustic amusements, of so dissolute a dye as to 
shock the moral sense of ordinary gentlemen. There is 
indeed among the ladies in the East an affability less re- 
stricted ^than in England, but it was hardly worthy of 
*' original geiiius" to quit the sphere of its abstruse researches 
to war upon such venial levities. 

Unfortunately the temper of unattractive ladies and self- 
sufficient moralists is apt to be captious, and to mistake pe- 
tulance for sarcasm : the latter is no amiable attainment, 



126 NOTES. 

and when clumsily exercised, it fails to be impressive, and 
becomes contemptible ; therefore I am persuaded that my. 
Indian friends will still continue to cherish their profane 
joviality, nor will the character of Englishmen in the East 
be importantly hurt by the froward invective of Coromandel 
travellers, or the conclusive condemnation of a young gen- 
tleman, who has formed his estimate of India and its tribes 
during an active residence of one whole calendar year in the 
extensive island of Bombay. 

Their kindled Jury on the Joe devolve. 

Page 84, line 4. 
I was an eye-witness of the frantic ferocity of the Rauje- 
poot tribe on the storming of Chiah, a small but strong for- 
tress in the province of Kattywar. When the chieftain 
apprehended the fall of his fort he attempted his escape, but 
was repulsed by some horsemen appointed to intercept his 
flight. Having embraced that dishonourable but unsuccessful 
alternative, he, in common with his troops, resolved to atone 
for their unworthy conduct by sacrificing themselves in de- 
fence of the fortress. When the storming party entered 
the breach there was a perfect silence, and no appearance 
of opposition ; but on arriving in a small palace yard the few 
advanced sections of the British troops were surrounded by 
the Raujepoots, who sprung from several recesses, brandish- 
ing their swords and dancing with an air of savage enthu- 
siasm. The peculiar beauty of this valiant and illustrious 
tribe, their long, bright, dishevelled locks, the fierceness of 
their purpose, the intrepidity with which they fought and 
died beneath the flames of the burning palace, have left a 
durable impression on the minds of the few officers employed 
on that occasion. On observing the advance of the storming 



NOTES. 127 

party the Raujepoots had loosed their locks, cast away the 
scabbards of their swords, and had drunken an intoxicating 
beverage called " bang;" but the deed which crowned these 
awful ceremonies was the slaughter of their wives and female 
children, lest their race should be polluted by the embraces 
of the christian conquerors. The whole of the Raujepoots 
perished to a man ; they would not hear of quarter, nor ac- 
cept of life, for every merciful disposition was manifested on 
the part of Colonel East, an officer too highly and generally 
esteemed in a professional and social point of view to require 
the aid of my feeble, yet, I trust, not presuming commenda- 
tion. 

Like the prophet in prowess and power. 

Page 93, last line. 
Mr. Gibbon speaks facetiously of the prophet's *' natural 
or supernatural gift," and cites Paschasius in testimony of 
his surpassing vigor. " Sibi robur ad generationem, quan- 
tum triginta viri habent, inesse jactaret ; ita ut unica hor^ 
posset undecim fseminis satisfacere." Petrus Paschasius, cap. 
2. The exclamation of Ali on washing the prophet's corpse 
is in the same intelligible terms. See the note on Mahommed's 
death. Gibbon, v. g. 

As whirlwinds tear Bomullan's steep. 

Page 100, line 4. 
BomuUan is the name of a hill fort conspicuously situated 
in the romantic amphitheatre of mountains round Panwell ; 
it is distant about twenty miles from Bombay, and was once 
unsuccessfully attacked by an army bearing nearly the pro- 
portion of one hundred to one against it. 



'128 NOTES. 

His girdle and his turban took. 

Page 102, line 20. 
' Mr. Crawford in his sketches of the Hindus is accurate : 
" a woman," he says, " is forbidden to burn herself on the 
death of her husband, if she cannot procure his girdle and 
turban to place on the pile with her." 



DAVISON, Lonibard-sueet, 
Whiletriars, Loudoa. 



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